I will cry if Christmas fixtures are cancelled – Wenger

Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, has hit back at Louis van Gaal’s comment that the Premier League’s Christmas fixture list is “evil” and says he would cry if they are cancelled.

Van Gaal called for a winter break in England, as observed in other European Leagues, but Wenger has objected.

“There is no winter break and I think that is the most evil thing of this culture,” the United manager said.

“It’s not good. It’s not good for English football. It’s not good for the clubs or the national team. I think you should change it.

“England haven’t won anything for how many years? Because all the players are exhausted at the end of the season.”

Speaking in his press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash against Everton, Wenger said: “I have a lot of respect for Louis van Gaal but I don’t agree with him on that.

“Maybe it’s because I’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 it’s part of English tradition and English football.

“To suppress the game on Boxing Day… The whole of Europe comes to England to watch the game. It’s a very important part of us being popular in the world, that nobody works at Christmas and everybody watches the Premier League.

“I want to go on with it, yes. I always pleaded for a break after January 1, but we have to keep this tradition alive.”

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