Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has revealed that Chelsea players will attend training sessions despite being in festive period. The Blues trainer made the disclosure during his Friday press conference ahead of the weekend clash with Leicester City at the Premier League. Sarri further said that he prefers playing football over celebrating the holiday, and declared no Christmas for the west London side this year as he detailed the fixture congestion that accompanies the festive period.

“There is no Christmas for us,” the Italian remarked at his weekly news conference ahead of the league fixture against Leicester City.

“We have to play every three days: (December) 19, 22, 26, 30, (January) 2, 5, 8/9. So there is no Christmas for us. It depends only on the match. If the match is in the evening, we can stay at home the evening before. If the match is at 3 p.m. or 1 p.m., we will go to the hotel, as usual.”

Sarri confirmed that the Chelsea team will train on Christmas day in the morning and in the evening of Christmas Eve ahead of their Boxing Day clash.

A reporter also asked him if he enjoys Christmas on a personal level, to which Sarri responded: “No, I like more to play football.”

“I am lucky, in Serie B in Italy, we played over Christmas and I liked it very much. In the Italian stadia, there was a wonderful atmosphere. In Italy, it’s not really very easy (to have that kind of electric atmosphere).”