Xmas cancelled for Blues aces

CHELSEA’S manager last night told his players: Sarri – Christmas is cancelled.

There will be no Yuletide fun and frolics at Stamford Bridge this year under Blues boss Maurizio Sarri with a packed seasonal schedule to contend with.

But far from being worried about the hectic programme, which starts with today’s home clash against Leicester, Sarri would rather be at games than at home unwrapping presents.

So his players will be in training on Christmas Day – and even on the morning of their evening Boxing Day clash at Watford.

Asked if he enjoyed Christmas, Sarri sounded like the fictional character The Grinch as he replied: “No, I like to play football more. There is no Christmas for us – we have to play every three days.

“How we prepare depends on the match. If it is in the evening, we stay at home the evening before. If the match is in the afternoon, we will stay in the hotel the night before as usual.

Enjoy

“So we will be in training on Christmas Day, and on Boxing Day before the match.

“Is there a present I want this year? No. No Christmas for me, so no present.”

Sarri is set to play Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard as a ‘false 9’ once again and is adamant that the Belgian superstar loves the position.

Hazard played in the same role for previous Chelsea manager Antonio Conte last season, and said at the time that he did not enjoy it.

But Sarri said: “I wasn’t here last season so I don’t know why Eden said that, but he told me he likes playing there very much.

“There isn’t a ‘best’ position for Eden. He is a wonderful player and he needs to be let free on the pitch, but we need to have a very high level of organisation to help with his movements.”

Sarri will be without defender Andreas Christensen, who has a hamstring injury.

But he insisted that the young Dane, the subject of a bid by Barcelona, is not for sale.

He said: “Christensen is out of the market. He’s an important player and he will be even more important in the future.”