Wednesday 23 December 2015 23:40, UK
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is unhappy at the club's Christmas schedule, because of the demands on his players facing two matches inside 48 hours.
Saints host Arsenal in Boxing Day's late kick-off, before making the trip to West Ham on Monday, less than 48 hours later.
Koeman recalls making four changes between last term's 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea just two days on, and this year the former Netherlands defender insists his resources will be stretched further between the festive double-header.
"Yes, it's too much," said Koeman, when asked if Saints' schedule puts unfair demands on his squad.
"It's too much and we have to travel. The rest between the two matches should be at least 48 hours. In our case it's not 48 hours because we play at 7.45pm on Boxing Day and then on Monday at 5.30pm.
"We have 45 hours - no, a little bit less, as we have to travel. Of course it's London and it's close, but still we have to travel.
"Impossible. But okay, we accept it and we play."
Southampton head into the Boxing Day battle with Arsenal desperate to arrest a six-game slump without victory.
But Koeman believes he has no choice other than rotating his squad to avoid the risk exposing his players to potential injuries.
"Yes, yes: you can't play with the same 11, it's impossible," said Koeman, when asked if the tight turnaround could increase the injury risk.
"I was watching back to last year and we made four changes between Boxing Day against Crystal Palace and the Chelsea game.
"I remember some of the players were gone after 50, 60 minutes. I will make more changes to the team this time."
