Benitez bemoans festive schedule

2Slick

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants the festive programme to be cut in half to protect players from injury.

With Christmas Day falling on a Monday, the schedule will consist of four Premiership games in 10 days.

Benitez said: "Four games is a lot. If you want to keep the tradition, maybe play two games, it would be enough.

"You cannot play two games in three days - it is impossible for a player to be physically fit for the next game and there is a big risk for the players."

Liverpool face Watford at Anfield on Saturday before heading to Blackburn and Tottenham, followed by the visit of Bolton on New Year's Day.


How can you be a normal person in the street with parties on 31 December and then be ready for a game if you play 1 January?

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The former Valencia coach was afforded the luxury of an extended break over Christmas and New Year during his spell in charge in Spain.

And the Spaniard believes the hectic programme has a detrimental effect on British sides in Europe as well as on Steve McClaren's England team.

He added: "When you think about the national team and the performances of the teams in the Premier and Europe it is not necessary to play four games.

"We want to play Boxing Day and we want to play New Year's Day - I feel that is enough."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ol/6201519.stm

Styles™

4 games in 10 day is a bit over the limit, 2 or 3 games wouldn't be bad, but the risk of injury really jumps when these guys have to be fit and ready every 2 or 3 days, your body is not suppose to take it...

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