Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has criticised the Premier League for refusing to postpone their game against Sunderland in December.

The European champions wanted to move their December 8 league fixture at the Stadium of Light in order to facilitate their travel plans to Japan for the Club World Cup.

"You would think that the Premier League would have every interest in making sure that they give you the best chance to be successful in Japan, which would reflect very, very well on English football and the Premier League," the The Daily Mail quotes the Italian as saying.

"So, I'm very surprised about it. I just can't my head round it. To give yourself the best chance travelling to Japan, with nine hours time difference, arriving three days before, you will need to do everything in your power to be able to ready for those games.

"The tournament starts on the sixth so the team we play in the semi-finals will have been there already for a week. It's a big risk in terms of health, injury risk for the players too."

Chelsea won the Champions League last season for the first time in their history.