UEFA Need To Look At Fixture Pile-Up

Swansea City boss Roberto Martinez believes the UEFA needs to have a look at getting rid of a fixture pile-up during the season.

While some of our play-off rivals - Burnley and Sheffield United in particular, seem to be coping fine with playing twice a week, we've struggled however to maintain our high standards during a 36-day period in which we've played 11 games.

Martinez told the Evening Post that the health of the players is at risk because of the fixture pile-up:

'If you don't have the congestion, you don't need the break as we did in this period. That is a suggestion that needs a review,'

'The boys needed mentally to switch off, and the break has allowed us to do that.

'With the way we play we demand high intensity and high standards in every performance.

'We are not a team that is based in a solid disposition and trying to win games by keeping clean sheets and being negative with our approach.

'There have been too many games to reproduce that kind of form game after game.

'Avoiding 11 games in 36 days is something that must be done because you are risking the health of your players and dropping the quality of your football. Nobody wants that.

'You need to find the solution from the top - Uefa needs to look at the situation. They need to look at the domestic commitments and international needs, then put it all together.

'At the moment, the way it is now, it is on the verge of being unhealthy for the safety of the players and the quality of the standard of football.'

In the last 11 games, which includes 2 FA Cup games against Fulham, we've won just 2 of them, drawing 5 and losing 4.

The Swans will need a huge turnaround of form if we are to reach the play-offs this season.

We're back in action on Sunday April 5th as we face Cardiff City at Ninian Park at 11am. Other games remaining include facing fellow play-off rivals Bristol City at home followed by Sheffield United away.

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