Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has confessed that he "does not know" whether the introduction of a winter break in English football will have the desired effect.
A two-week hiatus for each Premier League team appears to have taken a giant stride forward, as league chiefs are reportedly prepared to sanction the proposal from 2020.
If given the green light by the Football Association, FA Cup fifth-round matches will be shifted to midweek and replays scrapped, allowing 10 top-flight teams to play on one weekend and the other 10 the following week.
Despite the prospect of a possible 14-day break for his side, though, Pochettino first wants to know more about the plan.
"I think that the Premier League is the Premier League. It is different to other leagues. To keep the same dynamic is so important," he told reporters during Tuesday afternoon's press conference.
"I don't know how it is going to work this new situation but it is not for next season, it is for after. We need more information about what is going to happen but we will see. I think the winter break in countries like Spain, Italy or France is completely different. It is cultural.
"In England you cannot stop playing on Boxing Day or in the New Year or in the Christmas period. I think this is the most beautiful period in England to play football. But in Spain, if you want to play in this period, the fans are not happy. It is cultural. Maybe in February it is going to happen. So okay, we will see if it is going to work but I'm not sure."
Spurs take on Rochdale in a fifth-round replay at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday evening - a match that would be discounted under the new proposal, with extra time and penalties instead being used if the original tie ends all square.
Daniel Lewis
