In addition to revealing that his players will be required to practice on Christmas Day, Mauricio Pochettino called Chelsea’s Premier League schedule “unfair”. The only team playing on Christmas Eve is the Blues, who take on Wolves at Molineux at 1pm.

Additionally, they have another away game at Crystal Palace on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. as part of their holiday fixture schedule. In stark contrast to the Blues, the Eagles will have had almost a whole week off between their two games.

Pochettino will take his team to Cobham on Christmas Day because Chelsea has two games in 78 hours. When asked if he would be allowing his players to spend time with their families, the Argentine responded, “We cannot stop as we have another game against Crystal Palace on the 27th.”

“I will not be critical, but Palace faced Brighton on Thursday. We’re going to practice on Monday after our performance on the 24th. The players must realize that there is not much time for recovery, so we cannot give up.”

Following their two fast-paced games against Wolves and Palace, Chelsea will play again at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, December 30, at 12.30 p.m. against Luton. Pochettino went on, “I believe that the teams’ differences are the root of the issue.

“We are in the same situation if we all play 24th and all play 27th. I won’t be critical; but, the organization needs to improve because the disparity in recovery has an effect.

“It’s not an excuse or to open the umbrella before the rain but they are the facts and the reality.” The Chelsea manager had previously acknowledged in October that he understood the Chelsea supporters’ annoyance with their Christmas Eve trip to Wolverhampton.

This is due to the fact that yesterday, the 23rd, marked his 31st wedding anniversary, and Pochettino notes that the 24th is “a really important night” for Argentinians who celebrate Christmas one day ahead of the English.