Salut!

If I ever become a manager of a football club then I will regard this time of year - Christmas - as a very important period!

Part of my philosophy would be to have a family meeting every week, where the players could bring their wives and children. Therefore, at Christmas time I would make sure there was a huge Christmas tree at the club because I believe in creating a family atmosphere, one which would make the players want to fight for me, for each other, for the club and for the fans.

I would want to create a successful spirit - like the spirit in an Italian family. If you don't know each other, how can you go on to the pitch on Saturday afternoon and fight for each other? It is easy to communicate with people who are happy, scoring goals and playing well; they will respond to you. I want the players to enjoy coming to play for my team.

That is why it is important to capture the spirit of Christmas, as that is often a pivotal point in a team's season. It is the time of year when you play half a dozen games in rapid succession, including the third round of the FA Cup, and if you emerge at the other end with a few good results then you can find yourself well-placed in the league and in the fourth round of the cup.

I shall be spending Christmas in the South of France, and as we approach the big day I shall tell you all about a typical French Christmas, so keep tuning in for more.

As always I am keeping an eye on the Premiership race and it is good to see that it is still nice and open. Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are still the main contenders, while at the other end of the table there is little to choose between half a dozen teams.

I hear the weather in Britain is getting colder, so make sure you all wrap up warm and take care on the roads. I'll talk to you again soon.

A bientôt,

David Ginola.

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