Winter schedule freezes English in Europe

ALEX FERGUSON has hit out at the winter fixture schedule he believes severely handicaps England’s elite in their bid to conquer Europe.

On the eve of Manchester United’s latest Champions League campaign, Ferguson has outlined the major reason he feels no English club has reached the final of Europe’s premier competition since the Red Devils beat Bayern Munich five years ago.

Single semi-final appearances by Leeds, United and Chelsea has been all the Premiership representatives have been able to manage since that famous night in Barcelona, while clubs from Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Portugal have all gone on to reach the final.