Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Premier League needs a midseason break if England are to be competitive in tournaments.

Ferguson, whose Scotland side earned just one point in the 1986 World Cup, told US radio station Sirius XM this weekend that the Barclays Premier League may need to phase in a winter break for England to succeed at major tournaments.

"It's a real task to ask players to perform at the best level they can achieve after the season in England," he said.

"Germany always take that month-long break in January."