Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that his Chelsea stars will have to report for training at Cobham on December 25, despite that being Christmas day.

The Blues will play Wolves on Sunday, December 24— the first time a Premier League game will hold on Christmas Eve in 28 years.

Some of the players would have expected to at least have Christmas day off before getting back to work, but Pochettino has stated it’s important they train because Chelsea have another game on Wednesday.

The gaffer said: “We are going to train on the 25^th. We cannot stop as we have another game on the 27^th.

“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.”

Pochettino added: “If all of us play 24^th and all of us play 27^th, 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.”