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O'Neill critical of international break

13/10/2008

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has criticised the scheduling of international fixtures, saying the second game of an international break should be played on a Tuesday rather than a Wednesday.

O'Neill is facing of seeing several of his crucial players – including John Carew, Gareth Barry and Stiliyan Petrov - return to Villa Park from far flung destination on Thursday, leaving them only one day's training before Saturday's fixture against Portsmouth.

"The Players on international duty don't have the break that the non-internationals do and they have to come back at very late hours," O'Neill told Villa's official website.

"For instance, Stiliyan Petrov plays the second game of his international week on Wednesday night in Georgia.

"He then has to travel back because we play Portsmouth on Saturday. Those are the obvious concerns of a club manager but I wouldn't be alone in that."

The Villa boss feels Fifa need to step in and address the situation.
"There's talk - and I think it is a good idea - of playing the second game on a Tuesday. I don't think many people would disagree with that because it gives you the extra day," added O'Neill.

"That would give players the extra time to get home from fairly lengthy distances away.

"It would give them added preparation time and I think everyone would be happy."