Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet believes that Christmas celebrations within high-profile football clubs are in danger of going "over the top".

While the Uruguayan has claimed that he has not told his players what they can and cannot do, the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss believes that an annual party should not be at the forefront of the team's minds.

"There is a time and a place for everything but the players know the situation we are in so we have to manage it," the Northern Echo quotes Poyet as saying. "No, [I haven't told them what they can and can't do]. It's not like that. It is the fact that it used to be normal, then we, and I include myself as well, we made it not normal these Christmas celebrations.

"Someone and somehow did it because they went over the top and then it became an issue when it should be a nice day out, a good dinner and couple of drinks and then home. What is wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. But when you go over the top, then it is a problem."

The Black Cats are currently at the bottom of the Premier League table on just eight points.