Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has disagreed with Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal over his views on football during Christmas, stating that he would cry if it was to stop.
Louis van Gaal stated that no winter break in English Premier League is the “most evil thing of this culture”.
Wenger loves Christmas football
Arsene Wenger, when asked of his views on the winter schedule in England following van Gaal’s comments, said that while he understands why the United manager is saying so, but he has come to love the culture in England of football during the holiday season.
a I have a lot of respect for Louis van Gaal but I dona t agree with him on that,a Wenger was quoted saying by the Guardian . ahead of their clash with Everton.
a Maybe ita s because Ia ve been in England for such a long time. I had his ideas when I arrived here but today I would cry if you changed that because ita s part of English tradition and English football.
a To suppress the game on Boxing Day, the whole of Europe comes to England to watch the game. Ita s a very important part of us being popular in the world, that nobody works at Christmas and everybody watches the Premier League.a
Wenger suggests New Year day as alternative for rest
The Frenchman went on to suggest that in order to compensate for the lack of winter break and the congestion in the fixture causing injuries to players, the New Year period should be used for break, instead.
He said: a I want to go on with it.
“I always pleaded for a break after January 1, but we have to keep this tradition alive.a