David Wagner would normally be relaxing with his family in Germany at this time of year.
Instead, having taken charge of Huddersfield Town seven weeks ago, he is now preparing for two games in three days.
Town take on Preston North End on Boxing Day and travel to QPR just 48 hours later as their bid to climb the Championship standings reaches it’s most hectic stage.
“This is something completely new and different to me,” confessed the head coach.
“I am not thinking about Christmas and the spirit of this time of year, just about my squad and about playing Preston North End.
“Everybody speaks in Europe about the Boxing Day football being a special thing in English football and I’m very excited to be a part of it – so hopefully we will have a successful Boxing Day.”
Huddersfield v PNE
This is the first time in his playing and coaching career that Wagner has not been part of a winter break.
Capped eight times by the United States (his father is American), Wagner explained: “Normally we would have a four-week break with 10 days off, so it was good for the mind to take a break and have some down time.
“For your body, you didn’t lose a lot of fitness in 10 days and we would always go to a training camp – to Turkey or to Spain – so to have some sunshine was also very important for your mind and your spirits.
“When I’ve been playing and coaching it is always something I’ve enjoyed, but I am also enjoying working here for Christmas and it’s exciting for me to experience the other side.”
Wagner doesn’t believe the winter break is crucial in ensuring success for countries at national level.
Germany and Spain have both been very successful over the years, but Germany have a break in mid-winter and Spain don’t.
Not only do Town not have a break in the Championship, this holiday period is one of their busiest, and Wagner confirmed he will be rotating his squad to cope with the workload.
“This is completely new for me – never known it as a player or a manager,” he said.
“For sports science, this is crazy.
“For the health of the players and their mentality, it’s crazy.
“Games coming one by one is fine, but two in three days is not something I have ever experienced, so we will really have to make sure everyone is fit and healthy and ready to be a part of it.”
