Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino: 'Christmas Eve game affects my anniversary'

Following on from reports that the Premier League were considering holding a game on Christmas Eve for the first time since 1995, the decision was confirmed on Thursday.

As a result, neither the Blues or their West Midlands hosts will play on the more traditional date of Boxing Day, each club not being penalised in terms of rest periods between games.

However, the scheduling has the potential to have a considerable impact on supporters, emergency services and the media, the vast majority who would prefer not to have a football fixture scheduled for 1pm on that particular day.

Supporters group from both teams have already acknowledged their disappointment, calling for the Premier League and broadcaster Sky Sports — who allegedly instigated the decision — to reconsider.

Any appeal, as it stands, is unlikely to be successful, something which Pochettino acknowledged at a press conference on Friday ahead of the upcoming showdown with Brentford.

Nevertheless, Pochettino admitted that the move on the calendar would also proved inconvenient to himself courtesy of being required to travel to Wolverhampton on the day of his 31st wedding anniversary.

Speaking to reporters, Pochettino said: «Our fans not happy? Me either. 23 is my anniversary with my wife and I need to travel to Wolves and then 24th for Argentine people is a really important night and I hope to arrive in time to celebrate an important night.

»It is difficult because it is not easy to change. We need to accept we are in England and it is different to the rest of the world.

«Even if I am not happy, I need to