Celtic boss Martin O'Neill is looking forward to the rest his weary players will get when the winter break in the Scottish season begins next week. The champions are just a point behind Rangers in the table and have a home game against Dunfermline and a trip to Aberdeen before the season halts for almost a month.
Although many involved in the Scottish game are not eager for a break to the season, O'Neill admits the interuption can't come soon enough as he and the players head away to Florida for some much needed rest.
"The way the season is panning out there is relatively little time for a break, but I accept that is happening in football generally. Here we start the season early and the side which wins the league is playing in a couple of Champions League qualifying games and you're trying to get mentally and physically tuned into those. It is demanding. Two years ago the experience of the break was delightful," he admitted.
"Some of the players felt that the breaks in the previous years had an effect and they came back and started sluggishly. I still think they are good for us. Everyone feels the same. I spoke to the Hearts lads and everyone wants to get that break, but you can never afford to look forward to it until it's actually upon you. It's three weeks which is great, it gives the boys a chance to be with their families for four or five days. Then after that we're somewhere which is hopefully quite sunny," he added.
O'Neill also believes England should follow suit and introduce a mid-season break. "My own view is that we're one up on England because they don't have a break. I don't know how they would run it, but I think it's a really brilliant idea. Personally speaking, I never do switch off, but the whole idea that the club can have a break is tremendous. Even the girls in the office are looking forward to it. The season is very demanding for the players and they are very much looking forward to it," he explained.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
