Jurgen Klopp: EPL's holiday schedule hurts England in tournaments

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that the Premier League's lack of a holiday break hurts England's chances in major tournaments, according to the BBC. Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that the Premier League's lack of a holiday break hurts England's chances in major tournaments, according to the BBC.

Klopp said that England's squad is “very talented,” but that the Premier League's busy holiday schedule makes it difficult to compete at tournaments like the European Championship, which will be played this summer in France. 

“You have too many games, that's for sure,” Klopp told Football Focus, according to the BBC. “You have no break, too many tournaments.

“I think everybody knows that's not the way [to be successful].”

Other major leagues in Europe take a break during the holiday season, but Premier League squads play several games. Liverpool, for instance, played on Sunday, and the Reds also have games on Dec. 26, Dec. 30, Jan. 2, Jan. 5 and Jan. 8. 

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England reached the quarterfinals of Euro 2012 but failed to reach the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup. 

Klopp also said that the Premier League's busy holiday schedule hurts clubs in tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, which no EPL side has won since Chelsea in 2011–12. 

“There are reasons why the big English clubs in the last few years were not that successful. You have too many tournaments.” he said, according to the BBC.

Klopp joined Liverpool in October after the club sacked Brendan Rodgers. Klopp previously coached Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. 

Liverpool enters Boxing Day ninth in the Premier League table with 24 points. 

- Stanley Kay