Tony Pulis is frustrated with the scheduling of his team's FA Cup tie at Crawley Town and feels it may damage Stoke City's European progress.
The Potters' fifth-round tie against the League Two promotion-chasers will take place at midday on Sunday February 19, as it is being broadcast live on ESPN.
City's last-32 Europa League clashes with Spanish giants Valencia will be played on the Thursday before and the Thursday after the Crawley match.
Pulis feels the positioning of the FA Cup tie is unhelpful.
He told the Stoke Sentinel: "Those are three massive games, but the authorities haven't helped us.
"They could have given us an afternoon slot instead of one so early in the day. They have a club in Europe, but have given us no thought.
"To play against one of the top sides in Europe on the Thursday, then to ask us to play on a Sunday morning in what will be Crawley's cup final, I think we are getting the short end of it."
Stoke have won seven of 10 European fixtures this season.
Robert Summerscales
