Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has urged the Premier League to reintroduce the five substitutions rule that was scrapped at the start of last season.
For the restart of the 2019-20 season in June, clubs were allowed to make five substitutions rather than the usual three due to the tight schedule that was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Premier League reverted to the three-subs rule at the start of last term but in the other four major leagues - Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 - teams can still make five substitutions.
United are also allowed to make five substitutions in Champions League matches but Rangnick insists the rule needs to return to domestic competitions.
"As far as I remember, the five substitutes were implemented, it was decided every team could substitute five players when Covid started one-and-a-half years ago and I think it was the right decision to do that, to have more options to change players, to save energy for players, especially if they had only just recovered from Covid," Rangnick said.
"And the same is true right now, we have a similar situation to the one we had one-and-a-half years ago and therefore I wouldn't see any reason why it shouldn't be as it was one-and-a-half years ago.
"As far as I know in Europe, England is the only country where they only allow three subs. In the other four big leagues in Europe, you can substitute five players. And, on the other hand, you're still allowed eight field players on the teamsheet, and if you have eight field players on the teamsheet you should be able to replace five, but you can only replace three of them. You will always have five players on the bench who cannot be substituted and cannot play.
"You know that better than I do what a big tradition it is in England to play on Boxing Day, to play on the 27th, on the 30th or January 2nd. I think this is a big tradition and we should stick to and respect this tradition. I'm looking forward to that, it will be the first time in my coaching career I will be part of that.
"But there might be two or three other issues that might be discussed have been discussed in the past. England is the only country again in the top five leagues in Europe that plays two cup competitions. In France, they abolished the second one two or three years ago. Currently, we are the only country that plays two cup competitions, this is something we could speak about and discuss.
"I know the reason for that. The League Cup is still kept for the third and fourth division teams, especially to improve the financial situations of those clubs. But I still think, if we speak about a tight calendar, playing too many games, this is something we could speak and discuss.
"The other issue changed in the last two weeks is in the FA Cup after a draw you have to have a replay, this had been changed now. This is a good idea. In other countries, in cup competitions, you play extra-time and penalties, and you never have replays. So those might be issues and topics you could speak about.
"I think it would be a great help to have five substitutes, it would also increase and improve the emotional situation in the squad, it's a big difference if you can give five players game-time, it's also about game-time, and I would be much more in favour of having five subs. In other countries, they do that. I think we should seriously think about that once again. I haven't spoken with the players about that but I don't need to as most would be in favour of that."
