Mauricio Pochettino known as on the Premier League to reassess the best way it schedules fixtures over the Christmas period to even out the time that groups need to get well.
Chelsea face Wolves at Molineux on Christmas Eve earlier than welcoming Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge three days later.
Palace, in contrast, may have had double the recovery time having most lately performed six days earlier on December 21 in opposition to Brighton.
Two extra sleeps ‘til Christmas, yet another ‘til Wolves! See you tomorrow, Blues! pic.twitter.com/XPZxxIe4o2
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 23, 2023
Gary O’Neil’s facet may even have loved two additional recovery days in contrast with Pochettino’s group, with Chelsea having been in motion in opposition to Newcastle in their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
The Blues may have performed a complete of eight video games in December by the time they log off 2023 with a recreation away at Luton on December 30.
Pochettino was requested whether or not he believed an excessive amount of was anticipated of gamers over the festive period, however insisted that his precedence was each group being given equitable time to get well between fixtures.
“The problem is the difference between the teams,” he stated. “If all of us play on the twenty fourth or all of us play on the twenty seventh, we’re in the identical circumstance.
“But the issue is that one performs (on the twenty first) one other on the twenty seventh. That is a giant drawback or benefit. But I don’t complain.
“The downside is to organise the state of affairs higher, as a result of it’s not honest. It’s to not make an excuse, to not open the umbrella earlier than the rain.
“But come on, it’s a fact. It’s the reality.”
The supervisor reiterated his name for persistence with summer time signing Christopher Nkunku after he made a long-awaited debut throughout Tuesday’s quarter-final win.
The 26-year-old carried out nicely on Chelsea’s pre-season United States tour earlier than selecting up a knee damage which required surgical procedure.
Since then, the group have signed Cole Palmer from Manchester City, who can occupy related positions in the ultimate third of the pitch as Nkunku, while Pochettino has additionally gained extra of a way of his favoured beginning XI and elegance.
“I don’t see him in a different way, only that after his injury he is a different player than before, because of the form today,” stated the supervisor.
“Maybe in some positions it’s going to be robust for him to deal with the calls for. You will see in the long run.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 20, 2023
“I’m not going to place strain on him. I’m so comfortable that he made his debut in opposition to Newcastle. We’re going to push him, to assist him to carry out higher on daily basis.
“He must be intelligent additionally to know that he must push himself. He must make a double effort, double in every thing. He must make an affect.
“In the long term, he’s going to be important for the club and for the team.”
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