Like most teams in the Premier League, Chelsea have been troubled by the recent spate of Covid-19 cases throughout the game, culminating in our request for the trip to Wolves to be postponed following a growing list of absentees.

That was ultimately turned down by the authorities and a depleted Blues side went on to draw 0-0 at Molineux, dropping points in the league for the third time this month, a result that saw us fall six points behind leaders Manchester City.

Villa, meanwhile, have not played for 12 days after an outbreak of their own, a contrast that has confused not only those at Cobham but people throughout the game.

‘Of course it hasn’t been the ideal preparation for the games,’ said the Spaniard earlier this week. ‘We know that during the season we have to cope with injuries and now for nearly two years we have had Covid-19, which brings uncertainty and a lot of thoughts about the situation.

‘With the Premier League and the clubs, we try to make a safe environment for everybody but it’s true that in the last couple of games we had injuries plus the Covid situation. We went through it and we do what we are told but I think it was very unclear with some games postponed and others not.

‘We didn’t get the full information and it’s a pity that some teams were going through different situations than others. We had people coming back from injuries so it’s a bit risky and we have still half of the season to go ahead of us.’

After leading from the front throughout the autumn, the traditionally tricky winter period has started to cause problems for Thomas Tuchel and his players.

Limited options notwithstanding, the Blues have won just two of our past six Premier League outings, though a first league clean sheet in four weeks in the Black Country and a Carabao Cup quarter-final victory at Brentford in midweek has renewed belief within the ranks.

‘It’s been difficult,’ admitted Azpilicueta. ‘We went through a tough period in terms of missing key players, of results and a bit of luck missing in games where we deserved more. In others, the performances were not good enough but we got the result, which sometimes covers it.

‘During the season, you cannot be every single game at your best but you need the results in those kind of games. We are ambitious and we want to win every single game so of course we are disappointed when we don’t do that.

‘In the last two games, we recovered the solidity a bit more even in difficult conditions. Even though in Wolverhampton we didn’t get the three points, we deserved more than the point we got.

‘We kept a clean sheet which we didn’t do for a while so that was important and hopefully we can start building again and get the momentum.’

Five consecutive starts in all competitions has seen the skipper return to the side in an effort to steady a faltering ship, while also taking him to 449 appearances for the club since his arrival from Marseille in 2012.

Not one to dwell on individual records or achievements, even Azpilicueta acknowledges the size of that milestone, though his natural instinct is to look forward. After recently leapfrogging Dennis Wise into seventh place on our list of all-time appearance-makers, the next target is to become only the sixth man in club history to notch a half-century of games.

‘I’m really proud,’ he said. ‘Numbers are numbers and they’re nice to achieve but honestly I couldn’t believe when I arrived here that I could achieve all that I have in a Chelsea shirt.

‘What it gives you is more ambition. When you taste the success, you want to win more and more so of course it’s an amazing number that is approaching but I take it like one more. I want to taste more trophies and hopefully we can do that.’

Trophy talk can wait for now as points are the real prize this Christmas weekend. With Liverpool’s game postponed, it gives Azpilicueta and his team-mates a chance to close the gap on the top two, though a former Anfield favourite will be in the opposite dugout hoping to thwart those plans.

Steven Gerrard made the switch to Villa Park from Rangers last month and has picked up 12 points from a possible 18 on offer in the six games since, transforming the Clarets into a more compact, hard-working unit. The Chelsea captain knows the challenge that awaits in the Midlands but is hopeful the special festive occasion can spur the team towards an important victory.

‘Since he came in, they got great results and a fresh manager is always a fresh start for the players with new ideas,’ added Azpi. ‘He has showed the manager that he is, setting up a team that is difficult to beat.

‘We know what it means playing on Boxing Day. It’s a special day for everybody so hopefully we can go there and play a good game because we know that we have to show the consistency.

‘It will be a tough game but hopefully we can be at our best and get the three points.’