Blues ready for Villa clash

Avram Grant is banking on a much-improved Chelsea performance on Boxing Day from the one they produced the last time they met Aston Villa.

Chelsea protect their long unbeaten home record against a team who have already beaten them once in the Barclays Premier League this season.

"It will be a tough match, but we are the home team," said Grant. "While I don't like the word revenge, we want to win - especially after our defeat there."

Grant has described Chelsea's chaotic Christmas fixture congestion as "exciting".

"This is the only country in the world that plays over Christmas," he added.

"All the other countries have a break at this time of the season, but for me it has been interesting to look on from the side.

"I don't think I've missed a game in England for more than 30 years, since I was 22.

"It has been very exciting watching from the side, but it's more exciting from the inside.

"I was in England last year with another club (Portsmouth), so for me it's exciting. This tradition is nice."