Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said that the Premier League needs a winter break in December.

The Italian believes that such a system, which is followed by the rest of the major leagues in Europe, would help the players recover for the second half of the season.

"I think that, in England, you need to have a break in December for the national team because we play a lot of games," ESPN quotes him as saying.

"The moment that they decide to give players one week off in December, it will be good for the teams and national team. Players don't have the time to recover very well.

"When we finish the championship, we go [for] one week in New York and, after they come back, some players play in the Confederations Cup and in qualification for the World Cup. That is incredible."

City are currently second in the Premier League table.