Manchester United

Wayne Rooney: 'Hectic festive schedule will cause injuries'

By Callum Mulvihill, Reporter | 30 December 2014

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes that the festive schedule of fixtures must be changed to help players avoid injuries.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has warned Premier League officials that players are at risk of suffering serious injuries due to the hectic schedule they are being put through.

Every Premier League side has played twice since Christmas, and there will also be a full set of fixtures in the top tier on New Year's Day.

Louis van Gaal revealed his frustration with the schedule after Sunday's goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur, and Rooney has followed his manager by insisting that changes need to be made.

"It is not easy playing two games in two days and you do lose a lot of the quality from both teams," Rooney told reporters. "It is difficult. We started so well in the first half but in the second half it was tough and hopefully in the future it has to change.

"It will probably take someone getting a really bad injury from doing it, which no one wants to see, but it is very demanding and I think it does need looking at.

"With the weather as well, with the fans coming from London or travelling from Manchester, it has been tough. It is a lot of money to spend over Christmas as well. But it is what it is, we have to deal with that and have to try and perform well."

United are in action against Stoke City on New Year's Day.