Sven's fear over fixtures

Fixture fear: Sven-Goran Eriksson

Adrian Curtis|Evening Standard|In Gothenburg

14 April 2012

Sven-Goran Eriksson today expressed fears that the Premiership's gruelling fixture pile-up could again put England's quest for glory at a major championship in danger.

Eriksson, a firm supporter of a winter break in England, labelled the Premiership's latest fixture alterations as "crazy" and "a jungle" with Arsenal now set to play four massive games in just eight days.

The England coach has been forced to prepare for tonight's friendly with Sweden in Gothenburg without the services of Arsenal duo Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, Liverpool's Michael Owen, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville from Manchester United as well as Chelsea stars Frank Lampard and Wayne Bridge.

Eriksson has already expressed fears that Campbell could miss Euro 2004 this summer with the groin injury that needs rest after every Arsenal match and may require an operation.

Arsenal play Manchester United in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday and then face Chelsea in the return leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at Highbury in midweek before meeting Liverpool at midday on Good Friday and Newcastle forty-eight hours later in the Premiership.

Eriksson, who has to name his Euro 2004 squad by the middle of next month, is not happy with so many crucial club games in such a short time.

He said: "If that is their football programme then I don't understand it. It is crazy. I am not talking about Arsenal particularly but the fitness levels of the players involved at the end of a long season. The fixture list, that's like a jungle for me."

Two years ago the England coach was convinced that too many of his players were jaded or injured for the World Cup because of the long Premiership season. Meanwhile, Eriksson is still waiting to see if there will be a backlash in support for him from the England fans after he was caught out recently having meetings with Chelsea.

He added: "It is important to have good relations with the players and the fans. I hope I am as popular with the fans as I was.

"I don't think I have done anything wrong." Eriksson is likely to start with Darius Vassell and Wayne Rooney in attack tonight with Steven Gerrard occupying central midfield alongside Nicky Butt.

John Terry and Jonathan Woodgate will form the central defensive partnership with Owen Hargreaves likely to be on the right of the midfield. Danny Mills and Phil Neville look certain to occupy the full-back positions while Joe Cole or Alan Thompson could fill the left midfield role.

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