Do footballers train on Christmas Day?

Most leagues in Europe have a one or two-week winter break around Christmas, when matches are paused and training schedules lightened.

But festive football has been an ironclad British institution for decades. And that means that, yes, most professional footballers will be training on Christmas Day.

"When you have your kids there playing with their new toys and you have to go training, that is a big sacrifice. It's not about money - it's just human nature," former Sheffield United, Tottenham and Fulham midfielder Michael Brown told the BBC.

With matches in the top-flight divisions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all scheduled for Boxing Day - as well as in the English lower leagues - a Christmas Day training session is the final opportunity managers have to help players maintain their fitness and work on a gameplan.

Manchester United and Newcastle United will both be training on Christmas Day after being selected to play in the only Premier League fixture on 26 December.

Christmas Day sessions for teams playing at home on Boxing Day typically take place in the morning or early afternoon, before players go home to spend time with family later in the day.

But if a team is playing away, then things become more complicated.

Clubs often stay over at a hotel the night before away matches, especially in the case of an early kick-off. Long-distance matches can even mean a coach journey or flight followed by a night in a hotel.

Despite their evident privilege, some footballers find the time spent away from loved ones on Christmas Day difficult, as Brown admits.

"I won't lie, [training at Christmas] is psychologically a challenge not to feel a bit sorry for yourself," he said.

"Sometimes you think about everyone [else] having a good time, but you have to think how many people would swap with your position. You have to realise and think about what you are doing."

Not every player has to turn up to work on Christmas Day, though. Teams who don't have a fixture scheduled for Boxing Day often give their squads the day off and train on the 26th instead.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said he will give his players more time off to spend with their families this year thanks to the quirk in the fixture scheduling.

"We stay in our in our normal rhythm, but definitely I try to give them more time off because it's family time and I think family is the most important in life," he said.

"I think it's so important for their mental health, it's so important for them to see their family and to enjoy the time. That's why I try to give them the most time off as possible. And I think that's all my responsibility. And then I hope that they come back stronger."

Pep Guardiola warned his players not to be complacent and said they will be weighed when they return to training to check they are fit enough to play against Nottingham Forest on 27 December.

"The moment they arrive after three days [off] I want to see how they come back. They can eat but I want to control them," the 54-year-old said on Saturday.

"I've learned from England, since I arrived, as much days [where you can] have a day off, you give them," he added.

"The schedule is so tight and the players have to forget. The moment of the game they will be fresh in the legs."

Forest boss Sean Dyche is taking a different approach and told his players to enjoy their day off.

"I don't mind them having a Christmas dinner," he said. "Sometimes the psychology is as important as anything. Within reason, you want them to enjoy Christmas Day."