Chelsea Football Club and Chelsea Foundation launched the campaign on Wednesday with a heartwarming video which shows how football offers a place to belong, whatever your age.

There are many aspects to our campaign. One is the opportunity for our fans to donate gifts at our upcoming matches, while a percentage of the proceeds from sales of our Christmas merchandise will also be going to charity, and we will be working closely with campaign charity partners such as Age UK and Shepherd’s Star to hopefully improve the lives of those who are feeling lonely this Christmas.

Fernandez and Garnacho are among the Blues stars involved in the film and they told us why the cause means so much to them.

‘It is sad to think there will be people lonely over this holiday season,’ said Garnacho.

‘I really look forward to Christmas, just like most people, so it’s important to represent the club in these kinds of campaigns and bring attention to such an important issue. Everyone needs someone's help.’

His compatriot Fernandez is in agreement. When he joined Benfica from River Plate aged just 21, it was not easy at first. But what the midfielder has learned since is just how powerful the footballing community is in bringing people together.

‘I have experienced loneliness myself when I moved from Argentina to Europe,’ revealed Enzo. ‘It was tough, I was feeling a bit lonely, but luckily I had the support of my family and friends.

‘It is also good to have your team-mates’ support and a dressing room full of people who you can trust and who you can be with to not feel lonely, especially when you are transitioning to a new country and a new experience.

‘Football can help unite people. Football is life, especially coming from a place like Argentina where people live it with such intensity.’

Fernandez has one big hope this festive period: ‘That everyone has a great Christmas and a happy new year’.

- Learn more about our Christmas campaign here

While Garnacho will be spending his first Christmas as a Chelsea player surrounded by friends, family and team-mates. He knows how fortunate he is, and that is why he is determined to help others this festive period.

‘When you are young and you come from another country, it is important to be with other people. I’ve always had the support of my family and I am very grateful to them.

‘Also, the team-mates and staff at the club are very important. Ultimately it’s a team sport - and it’s not just the 11 players on the pitch. There are many people involved in what makes up a team.

‘We’re very united at this club and that helps us all.’

Learn more about our The Magic of Blue campaign here and you can see our Christmas collection, where a percentage of all sales from range will be donated to fundraising efforts, here.