What a Sam-bles ALLARDYCE’S CUP REPLAY RAP
EXCLUSIVE
SAM ALLARDYCE says it is “sad” that The FA chose to stage FA Cup fourth-round replays during the Premier League’s winter break.
As a Premier League boss, Allardyce fought for over 15 years to convince English football authorities to sanction a European-style winter break in order to help players recover.
And the former England boss has backed Jurgen Klopp’s decision to stay away from Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 win over Shrewsbury on Tuesday.
He said: “I agree with what he’s done completely.
“Jurgen’s only sticking up what we have been fighting for – for many years – and mid-winter break.
“All his plans would have been sorted out months before and then the FA make a replay date during the break.
“For me it shows the massive difference still between The FA and Premier League. And it doesn’t bode well for football in general, does it?
“British managers like myself have been lobbying for a winter break for years to bring us in line with the other major European that’s a leagues. And it’s because top coaches like Jurgen, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have joined the same crusade that something has finally been done.
“The evidence has been with The FA and Premier League for the last 15 years that injuries have been greater after the Christmas period in England than it was in European leagues.
“They had their break and we didn’t but when we finally get one the two bodies that run our game still can’t agree.
“It’s a really sad state of affairs.”