Cech calls for change in Premier League schedule before European ties

Dec 9, 2012 7:20:00 AM

The goalkeeper believes English clubs are being put at a disadvantage due to the current fixture list following his side's exit from the Champions League

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has urged the Premier League to consider fixture changes for clubs competing in the Champions League.

The European champions could only secure a third-placed finish in Group E and now face a campaign in the Europa League. Manchester City, meanwhile, were dumped out of Europe altogether after failing to win a single game in their group.

Cech believes the Premier League must examine the schedule from other countries and ensure English teams have the same advantage as clubs from other nations.

“They should look at the fixture list quite closely,” Cech told the Sunday Mirror. “Shakhtar Donetsk, every game prior to the Champions League, play on Friday.

“Every German team [playing in Europe] play on Friday. They always get the advantage from their federation to have more time to recover.

“It is a great honour for English football if everybody gets good results and trophies."

After the Premier League refused Chelsea a fixture change, Rafa Benitez and his players boarded a flight to Japan for the Club World Cup just hours after their 3-1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.

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