Give us a break: Premier League bosses

Mancici, Ancelotti slam winter features

LONDON:
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini added his voice to calls for the English Premier League to follow their European counterparts and introduce a winter break.

With Spain, Italy and Germany enjoying a Christmas and New Year rest, English clubs face the prospect of four games in a 10-day period which could play a major role in the destination of the title. Tomorrow’s Boxing Day programme marks the start of the gruelling schedule.

“In England, Boxing Day is a very important game,” said Mancini. “But maybe English players need a rest sometimes. It might not be Boxing Day but maybe in January you could have a week off for all the players.”

Roberto Di Matteo, who coaches West Brom, backed Mancini.


“We’re not living in the Middle East or Africa,” said Di Matteo. “We live in England, in Northern Europe, so let’s have a winter break. Every year it snows, the pitches are frozen, training pitches are frozen and it’s not safe for supporters.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti slammed the fixtures as his side prepares to play twice in three days over Christmas. Ancelotti’s team will play against Arsenal on Monday before a home match against Bolton two days later.

“We won’t have the possibility to recover for Bolton,” said Ancelotti. “We’ll have two days, compared to Bolton who, unfortunately, play on the 26th. We play on the 27th. That’s not a good thing, to have one day less to recover. I’m not happy about that.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2010.
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