'Five Star Pettiness' - Chelsea Use Matchday Programme To Highlight Their Congested Fixture List Compared To Rivals

Chelsea have used their matchday programme against Tottenham to support Thomas Tuchel’s claims that the club is playing too many matches.

Chelsea have suffered a significant drop in form in recent months, winning just one of their last seven league games prior to Sunday’s meeting with Spurs.

Tuchel has blamed the slump on his players being “mentally and physically tired” and has repeatedly complained about his side’s congested fixture list.

Chelsea used their matchday programme on Sunday to support Tuchel's claims with a table showing the number of matches played by Premier League teams since the last international break in November.

The Stamford Bridge club are unsurprisingly top of the pile with 18 games played, compared to 16 for Liverpool and 14 for Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Burnley, meanwhile, have played just seven matches during the same period.

However, many fans on social media had little sympathy for Chelsea.

One Twitter user wrote: “21 players out on loan.... are we supposed to feel sorry for them?”

Another added: “Chelsea making a point to back Tuchel’s “we’re tired” on the back of the matchday programme today. 5 star pettiness.”

A fan of rival London club Arsenal added: “That’s what happens when you qualify for the top competitions.

“As an Arsenal fan I wouldn’t once complain about having champions league football to play.

“Some people at the top level take these things for granted and don’t realise what it means to the fans and the club.”

Speaking ahead of his side’s 1-0 defeat to City earlier this month, Tuchel said his players were "badly" in need of rest.

"You can say it's an excuse but it's like this,” said Tuchel.

"Look at our schedule when we arrived at Man City, we had Carabao Cup in between, they did not.

“When we arrived here, they had more days to prepare.

“We've played like this since November, we are the team that plays and plays and plays."