EPL: Chelsea And Arsenal May Play Another Cup Final

PETR CECH questions the logic of having Chelsea play ANOTHER cup final � if they face a Premier League play-off. The Blues and Arsenal could finish the season level on points, goal difference and goals scored. That would mean a play-off would decide third place and the automatic Champions League qualification spot. Any scoreline where Chelsea draw and Arsenal score two more goals than them and win by the odd goal would also mean a play-off match. Should a play-off take place, it would be Chelsea�s 70th match of a long season that has seen them travel 21,000 miles across the world in addition to their domestic commitments. If this scenario was played out in a European competition, Chelsea would advance because they have beaten Arsenal twice this season. But unlike UEFA, the Premier League do not take into account the two teams� head-to-head record, much to Cech�s bemusement. Cech said: �Tell me about it! You go places every other day, you play games every other day and you have to refocus. �We have played in so many competitions, we have flown all over the world. �It�s tiring, it�s stressful, but in the end you get the reward and you forget about all this. �I don�t really understand it. I know this is the rule, but we beat them twice over the course of the season � home and away � so a playoff would be really extraordinary. �The rules are like that. Hopefully it won�t happen for both of us.� Chelsea have an end-of-season tour to the United States to play two friendlies against Manchester City next week.