Revealed: Mauricio Pochettino granted Reece James request for Chelsea squad to have night out in London just hours after dismal display in 2-0 loss at Everton

The get-together was initially requested by club captain James for a Christmas celebration before the Goodison Park defeat, and Pochettino allowed it to proceed, emphasising its potential positive impact on team morale. After a dismal performance against Everton that paved the way for Sean Dyche's men to take all three points at Goodison Park, and with the Blues skipper himself suffering a hamstring injury, the party was almost in jeopardy. However, when James inquired about the possibility of still holding the event after the match it was given the green light by Pochettino.

According to The Telegraph, the players first headed to the Bagatelle restaurant in Mayfair to enjoy their epicurean bon vivant. The restaurant offers a range of main courses priced between £30-£115, featuring diverse chicken and fish dishes.

After that, their next destination was the Tape Nightclub. Located in Oxford Circus, Tape is a popular spot for footballers, musicians, and notable personalities. The highlight programme of that evening was an event labelled "Tape Sundays".

Chelsea have struggled for form in 2023 and have been statistically labelled as the worst team in the English top-flight, with the lowest points-per-game ratio among clubs that spent the entire year in the Premier League, having amassed only 39 points from an equal number of games.

The night out, initially planned as a Christmas celebration, transformed into a bonding session, fostering team camaraderie. Now it remains to be seen if the chemistry gets translated onto the pitch ahead of an extremely busy two-week stretch for Chelsea where they will play five games, which begins with a fixture against Sheffield United on Saturday at home.