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Chelsea’s players will be in for training on Christmas Day, with Mauricio Pochettino claiming they have so many games to prepare for he cannot afford to give them a day off.
Chelsea visit Wolves on Sunday in the first Christmas Eve Premier League game since 1995 and are not in action again until they host Crystal Palace on December 27.
Players leaving their families on the big day to train ahead of Boxing Day games is common practice.
‘I am not going to complain but Palace played on Thursday against Brighton. We cannot stop because the players need to understand there’s a very short space for recovery.’
Mauricio Pochettino claims Chelsea’s festive schedule means players can’t take Christmas off
Summer signing Christopher Nkunku has several opportunities to build his fitness in games
Pochettino added: ‘If all of us play 24th and all of us play 27th, then we are in the same circumstances.
‘There’s a difference in recovery. I’m not going to complain but the organisation should be better because it’s not fair.’
Chelsea also face Luton on December 30 before their FA Cup third-round tie against Preston on January 6, giving summer signing Christopher Nkunku opportunities to build his fitness following his belated debut against Newcastle last midweek.
Pochettino will be mindful of the versatile French forward’s near five-month knee injury battle when deciding where to deploy him.
There will be no expectation on Nkunku to deliver instantly despite him being experienced at the highest level compared to some other new arrivals
Pochettino said: ‘I am not going to pressure him. We are going to push him to help him to perform every day. He needs also to understand he has to push himself. He needs to make double effort because he must have an impact.’
