Wolves Vs Chelsea Battle Puncak On Christmas Eve

Chelsea players hunt for victory on Christmas Eve. (photo x @chelsea)

JAKARTA -- Chelsea prepare to take on Wolves in a highlighted Premier League match on Christmas Eve, December 24. The match is scheduled for kick-off at 1pm GMT time, at Molineux, Wolverhampton.

This is a rare event that hasn't happened in the last 28 years. Although this schedule has drawn criticism, it could provide an opportunity for Chelsea to build their momentum in a season full of inconsistency.

In the last game, Mauricio Pochettino's side came out victorious against Sheffield United, although the win was a bit less convincing. Furthermore, they managed to overcome Newcastle in the Carabao Cup with a dramatic win on penalties. This match shows positive signs in the face of bigger challenges.

In this match the hosts, Wolves, hope to regain their key winger, Pedro Neto, along with goalkeeper Jose Sa and defender Nelson Semedo. Meanwhile, Christopher Nkunku from Chelsea who made his debut against Newcastle, gave Mauricio Pochettino hope to build on his impressive performance.

Several absent players for Chelsea include Reece James captain Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka.

However, Chelsea ahead of this match still have non-technical problems about harassment of their players.

Mauricio Pochettino stated that club officials should "appoint" in ignoring abuse directed at football players and managers through social media. This was conveyed after Reece James revealed that he was the target of online harassment after undergoing surgery.

Captain Chelsea wrote on his Instagram account on Thursday that he had received "more hatred and negativity" since suffering a hamstring injury that forced him out when his team lost 2-0 to Everton.

This is the second significant injury this 24-year-old has suffered this season, having also missed most of last season, in which Pochettino indicated that his recovery may take "a few weeks" maybe even months.

Last season, Chelsea's former manager, Graham Potter, provided a worrying report on abuse directed at him during his tenure, including threats via email addressed to his family.

Pochettino also said that he was also the target of harassment, although at a lower level, after this season's games.

The Argentine, who took his team to Molineux to face Wolves on Christmas Eve, said, "We're really exposed. Right now it's very easy to try to damage people. It's easy to write bad things. It's very fashionable to talk bad."

"What makes me sad is not social media, people who have access to writing this negativity. What makes me sad is that the people involved in this business pay attention to it," said Pochettino.

"Nothing will damage me. Maybe (the colleagues at the club) can damage me with words. When I respect and respect someone and they say something, of course it makes me think.

"But if I open social media and someone attacks me? I don't care. It won't change my mood or perspective. When we lost, I received harassment on social media, I received SMS (messages), WhatsApp, emails that I never opened. Not too much. A little," said Pochettino.

"It makes me sad for the people involved. If I were a coach, would I make a decision based on what people think about this? If someone followed social media and said 'it changed my view', I said 'Come on'," he added.

"People who manage this business need to be smart, and being smart means believing in the people you have. I need to believe in my owners, I need to believe in my sporting director," he explained.

Chelsea are looking for a third straight win in all competitions for the second time since March when they face team Gary O'Neil, having beaten Sheffield United in their last Premier League game and beating Newcastle on penalties to advance to the Carabao Cup semifinals against Middlesbrough.

Setelah kemenangan Piala Carabao pada Selasa, pemain pengganti dan yang tidak beremain ikut merayakan seatu tanda, menurut Pochettino, bahwa tim muda mereka semakin matang.

"It's about giving them the possibility to make decisions and be treated like men," he said. "They're mature enough.

"You give them the capacity to decide whether they want to or not. Anyone who doesn't want to be here is open to (go away). It's about creating a natural environment where everyone will be strong. If you want to be part of a group, you have a chance," said Pochettino.