According to
BBC Sport, Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has questioned the scheduling and timing of international friendlies and breaks. Sir Alex, 71, has always concentrated on keeping English roots within his Manchester United squads, a philosophy that has been obvious for decades in his acquisitions programme. Uniteds current squad includes key English stars as well as players for the future, with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick. Fergie said: "Friendly games, for the last decade, have been played the Wednesday before the season starts." He continued: "You tell me the sense of that. I've got no issues with competitive matches. But you can't tell me that should apply itself for friendly games." The Manchester United manager has been known for having a huge impact in his players international affairs with Rio Ferdinand having been advised not to return to the England squad despite England manager Roy Hodgsons u-turning his decision on the centre-back. Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, has also been caught meddling in International affairs, by having a bust-up with his centre-back Vincent Kompany. Kompany decided he would involve himself in Belgians World Cup qualifier with Macedonia despite not playing for his club for two months due to injury. Premier League managers may see the disadvantage of International breaks, although ever since Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has returned from the Netherlands, where he bagged a hat-trick against Romania, he has now returned to Manchester looking like more of a goal threat. International breaks may not be praised by the managers but its part and parcel of football and It doesnt look like it will change anytime soon.