‘It is impossible’ – Ancelotti blasts Everton’s hectic festive schedule
Carlo Ancelotti has hit out at the Premier League’s congested Christmas schedule with his Everton side facing a second game in the space of three days.
The Toffees won 1-0 against Sheffield United on December 26 and they will follow that up with a game against Manchester City on December 28.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, the Italian blasted the festive fixture list and said it is ‘impossible’ for players to recover in such a short space of time.
He said, “We don’t know how to prepare for the game. I think Man City have the same problem.
“The schedule is terrible. It is impossible to recover after two days. After three days, we are used to it, but two days is impossible; I [will] have to rotate players.”
Everton are already down on numbers with Richarlison and James Rodriguez set to miss Monday’s huge game at Goodison Park.
Congested games are a staple of the Christmas period in the UK which is a stark contrast to some countries who elect to have extended winter breaks.
They are great for fans who want to watch their team play as often as possible but it creates a logistical problem for players and managers.
There is no option but to heavily rotate squads so some clubs often have to deploy weakened sides in games.
Of course, this is an issue for every Premier League side but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t dangerous for players who are more likely to pick up injuries.
The priority for Everton must be the City game as a win against Pep Guardiola’s side would be an incredible achievement and would prove that the Toffees are back on the right track.
A decent result for Everton fans would simply be if their players make it through both games unscathed.
In other Everton news, Kevin Campbell has hailed the decision to offer Lucas Digne a new contract.