Gary Neville Advocates for Footballers to Work Through Christmas if They Play on Boxing Day
Gary Neville argues that players shouldn’t expect to take a break on Christmas Day.
Neville — ranked No.10 in FourFourTwo’s list of the best Premier League defenders of all time — enjoyed a successful career at Manchester United, accumulating eight Premier League titles and two Champions League victories.
However, he is frustrated by the modern clubs’ attitudes, expressing that the time off allowed for players leaves him feeling unsettled.
Gary Neville asserts that there should be no exceptions for players taking Christmas Day off
“That [allowing players a holiday on Christmas Day] should never happen,” Neville commented while appearing on the Stick to Football podcast, presented by Sky Bet
“If you have a match on Boxing Day, you should train properly on Christmas Day. We [Manchester United] always trained on Christmas Day – we never missed it. The fans are still showing up the next day [Boxing Day], and the points at stake remain the same.”
It seems players are now allowed a day off to celebrate with family on Christmas Day, as 16 teams will play in the Premier League on Boxing Day. Amazon Prime Sport is the broadcasting partner for the selected fixtures this season.
Manchester United is set to face Wolves, while Liverpool will host Leicester City. Manchester City will kick off the day against Everton, and Chelsea will compete in a West London derby against Fulham.
Some clubs, like Aston Villa this year, may need to be away from home on Christmas Day due to travel and training requirements for their match against Newcastle.
Neville’s perspective might seem somewhat traditional, yet there are other times throughout the football calendar where players are granted extended breaks from club responsibilities.
In FourFourTwo’s view, Neville is justified in pointing out that the football schedule is not lenient, and the Boxing Day games are equally important as any other matchweek.
Eager to catch football action during the festive season? Check out our comprehensive guide on how to watch Premier League matches anywhere in the world.
