No Christmas And New Year's Holidays In The Premier League, Guardiola: Boxing Day Tradition Is Important, But Substitutions Must Be Changed To 5

JAKARTA - The Premier League's unique tradition of playing at Christmas and New Year's time should not change. However, Pep Guardiola asked each club to be allowed to replace five players in every game.

Europe's top leagues have adopted a five-game substitution rule to ease the player's workload amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but Premier League clubs don't want to do this.

When most of the league's winter break, English teams instead played three games between 26 December-2 January. But given that many matches have been postponed due to COVID-19, Guardiola said it was time for the Premier League to adapt its five-player substitution rule.

"The tradition of Boxing Day is very important. This is the hallmark of this league. It won't change... Boxing Day is very nice for families to go to the stadium together," said Guardiola ahead of the visit to Leicester City the day after tomorrow quoted by Antara.

However, from the player's point of view, Guardiola considers a busy schedule to make players do not have enough time off. Therefore, player rotation is very important.

"We want to protect the players, so apply the five substitution rule. It's much better with the number of games now, but the Premier League and clubs have decided 'no'," said Guardiola.

Players and managers think that player safety is not taken seriously enough even though COVID-19 continues to worsen the situation. Guardiola went on to say the clubs must unite and go on strike even though he doesn't want this to happen.

"Just words won't solve anything. (For) UEFA, FIFA, Premier League, television, business is more important than the safety of players," added Guardiola. "Maybe we need to go on strike to get people to pay attention... (but) we want to play to make people happy during December. We are happy to do that," concluded Guardiola.