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Cesc Fabregas: The Premier League needs a winter break, says Chelsea midfielder

Fabregas says Premier League is the 'toughest in the world'

Glenn Moore
Wednesday 26 November 2014 23:30 GMT
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Cesc Fabregas has provided further evidence to the backers of a winter break in the English game.

A succession of Engand managers have called in vain for a mid-season break arguing the national team’s continued failures at major tournaments are, in part, a consequence of players arriving at World Cup and European Championships exhausted by the relentless pace of the Premier League season.

They have, however, been constantly rebuffed with neither the Football Association, nor the Premier League prepared to give ground in the congested fixture list.

The need for the break has been unerlined by Fabregas who is back in the Premier League after three seasons in Spain’s La Liga.

“It’s the toughest league in the world,” he said of the Premier League.

“While everyone is having their holidays - as I did the last three years, and trust me it helps a lot - [here] we play December 26th, December 28th, January 1st.

“It’s not the same getting into the Champions League knockout stages after playing every two or three days in the Premier League [compared to] having had 10 days off on holiday, where you can go to Dubai and enjoy yourself.”

The Premier League suggested earlier this season they would be prepared to accept a winter break beginning in January - but only if the FA scrapped FA Cup replays which the national association are reluctant to do because of both tradition and finances.

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