CHELSEA boss Enzo Maresca has revealed he will serve a DOUBLE Christmas ban.
Blues boss Maresca is suspended from the dug-out for Saturday’s game with Aston Villa after his second yellow card of the season in the draw at Newcastle.
But the Italian admitted he has been told he is not allowed in the kitchen on Christmas Day – because his MUM has come to stay.
Maresca said: “My mum is here and when my mum is here no one is allowed to go in the kitchen.
“So I’m out of the dug-out and out of the kitchen, exactly.
“She’s in charge of the kitchen. It’s just family time with the kids.
TO CHEL WITH IT
Semenyo’s preferred club revealed as Chelsea withdraw & Man Utd to miss out
“But in Italy we’re used to having fish for Christmas rather than turkey. It’s all about fish.”
Maresca confirmed that Brazilian teenage ace Estevao Willian and £30m striker Liam Delap are back and available to take on Unai Emery’s in-form Villains, who won 11 of their last 12 Prem games to move to third.
Morgan Rogers has become one of the stars of the season.
But the Blues chief insisted he has no hesitation in promoting the claims of his own main man, Cole Palmer, finally back at full bore after an injury-plagued few months.
SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN
He said: “I wouldn’t swap Rogers for Cole, no. I love Cole, and Cole is my player. He’s ready for 90 minutes now.
“The progression for a player after an injury is 45 minutes, one hour, 70 minutes.
“He already played one hour against Everton, he played more than 70 minutes against Newcastle, so the progression is there.
“Cole is a good option for Thomas Tuchel but at the end of the day it’s Thomas’ decision.”
Maresca also praised captain Reece James, adding: “Reece is growing in terms of leadership, he’s growing also in terms of the players because he’s playing more minutes, more minutes, more minutes.
“This is the reason why we are all happy, first of all because he can be fit, he can behave like a fit player.
“And then because we know that he can behave also as a leader.
“He’s one of the main players here, for different reasons.
“Reece is an academy player, somebody who comes from inside the house, he’s the captain.
“When he’s fit, he’s one of the best players we have, no doubt.”
