Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hit out at the English Premier League for its scheduling, feeling that the international break has left his squad ill-prepared for Saturday’s clash against Portsmouth. The Spaniard said it was “impossible to prepare a team properly” after losing key players to international duty for 10 days. Many Benitez’s players returned from their various commitments on Thursday evening, leaving just one day of training prior to Saturday’s game set to kick off at 12:45 p.m. (local time).
“I am really disappointed with the fixtures that we have because it is more difficult here in England. You play early kick-offs on the Saturday (after internationals) and⬦the only thing you can do with some of them is just to run a little bit and send them home.” He added that the day before a match is usually a light training session because the team has to travel later in the day.
“For me it’s impossible to prepare the team properly, you can prepare small details but to prepare the team physically and mentally for the game will be difficult.” Benitez also questioned the effect that early Saturday games have on teams who compete in Europe in midweek, suggesting that the traveling and fatigue can adversely affect a team’s shot at the league title.