English football is struggling to cope with a congested fixture list again. After a fresh surge of Covid infections throughout the game going into the busy Christmas period, several managers have made their concerns clear over the welfare of their players and staff.Due to numerous matches being postponed, Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has expressed his views – he suggested Premier League clubs should not participate in the Carabao (League) Cup and also proposed bringing back the five-substitute rule in the Premier League. Rangnick believes a discussion over top-flight sides pulling out of the second cup competition may be necessary. The 63-year-old also says that the hectic nature of the calendar means that there are too many games for clubs to ‘survive’ the tempo.Mon, 27/12, 23.00: (7.25) NEWCASTLE (4.50) MAN UNITED (1.50)After it was announced earlier this week that third and fourth-round replays of FA Cup would be scrapped this season, Rangnick concurred with the decision and believes that replays in that competition should be eliminated overall. ‘England is the only top league that plays two cup competitions. In France they abolished the second one,’ Rangnick said.’This is something we could speak about and discuss. The League Cup is still kept for the third and fourth division teams to improve the financial situations of those clubs. But in a tight calendar with too many games, this is something to speak and discuss.’The other thing is the FA Cup and the replays. That’s been changed and that’s a good thing. In other countries you never have replays, those are topics we could speak about.’How Tyler Onyango could benefit from Everton’s injury and Covid crises.When it comes to the number of reserves used during the match, the International FA Board has given permission for the five-substitute rule that was introduced during the pandemic.There is a sense that smaller clubs believe increasing it to five would only benefit the bigger teams – Rangnick claims that it helps all managers to keep their players happy.The Premier League is the only one of Europe’s top leagues to revert to three replacements, and last week clubs voted for a third time to stick to that rule.’England is the only country where they don’t allow five substitutes. It was decided every team could substitute five players when Covid started 18 months ago. I think it was the right decision to have more options to change players and save energy especially if they have only just recovered from Covid’, he said.’The same is true right now. We are in a similar situation to the one we were in one-and-a-half years ago, and I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be the same.Liverpool vs Leeds and Wolves vs Watford postponed because of Covid-19 outbreak’I think it would be a great help to have five substitutes. It would increase the emotional situation in the squad. It’s about game time and I would be much more in favour of five substitutes.’In other countries, they do that. I haven’t spoken with the players about that but I don’t need to as most would be in favour.’Red Devils’ next match is in three days against struggling Newcastle away and it remains to be seen if Rangnick will have some good or more bad news regarding the fitness of his ranks.
