Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that some of their Premier League rivals have been handed an easier schedule than they have over the Christmas period.
Each of the 20 teams in the top flight will play three games between Boxing Day and January 4, but leaders Chelsea appear to have been given more recovery time in between fixtures and do not have to leave London over Christmas and the New Year.
As for United, they only have two days between matches against Middlesbrough and West Ham United on New Year's Day and January 2 respectively, and the Portuguese has hinted that his club are at a disadvantage.
The 53-year-old told reporters: "The busy period is for some clubs, not for everyone. If you analyse clubs, the fixtures are chosen to give rest for some and to create problems to others.
"But we are used to it because we're in the Europa League and that is a competition that creates more difficulties – we know that, Southampton know that and Tottenham will find out."
United currently sit in sixth place in the league standings, 13 points behind Chelsea.
Darren Plant
