Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has described the lack of a winter break in the Premier League as "evil".

Many divisions around Europe give their players a rest over the festive period, but for teams in England, it is one of the busiest times of the season.

Van Gaal has claimed that the demands of the schedule affects how English teams perform in the league and in Europe.

"There is no winter break and I think that is the most evil thing of this culture - it is not good for English football," Sky Sports News quotes Van Gaal as saying.

"It is not good for the clubs or the national team. I think you should change it. England haven't won anything for how many years? Because all the players are exhausted at the end of the season.

"It is harder these days. The Premier League is the most difficult league to win because of the high level of the teams. You cannot beat any team easily. Every team is a challenge. It is a rat race and then you have to play also in the Champions League. It is not so easy and that is why English teams over the last few years have not won the Champions League because of the difference in the leagues."

United's last trophy was the league title, which they scooped in the 2012-13 season.