Antonio
Conte has said Chelsea and the other Premier League teams in the Champions
League can never relax, adding he will have to rotate his team during an
upcoming period of seven games in 21 days.
Conte was speaking ahead of Chelsea's Champions League group stage clash
with Azerbaijani club Qarabag FK on Tuesday, with the Blues on the back of
three successive victories.
Having previously coached for two years in Europe with Juventus, Conte
admitted that achieving success with Chelsea will be much tougher, owing to
the strength of the Premier League.
"English teams are having difficulties because the league is very tough here
and in my past sometimes before a Champions League game you rested players.
In England, it's not easy to do this and if you do you risk a lot," Conte
said.
"For sure to play seven games in 21 days is not easy but we are ready, and
for this reason I need to rotate the players in my squad. They must feel
totally involved in this process.
"We played two days ago and then we play tomorrow and then have another
tough game against Arsenal and then the Carabao Cup, and then two games in
the league against Stoke and Manchester City, then Atletico Madrid.
"There is the necessity to do some rotation, otherwise you have a team
without energy.
"Being realistic, it's not easy. When you play against a medium team in the
league and rest players you risk losing the game and in this league, there
are six and seven teams ready to fight for the Champions League.
"You are never relaxed in England. You have a tough league, the Champions
League, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
"To play 65 games at a high level it's normal that it's not easy. We are
starting a path and it will be very important to start and build something.
"You need to work very hard and improve every year and go step by step to
become like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus. You don't create a big and
strong team easily.
"We are building something important for the present but also the future,
but you need time to do this. We'll see what happens."
Ahead of their return to the Champions League, the Italian manager has
confirmed Eden Hazard is likely to start on the bench, but Deadline Day
signing Danny Drinkwater would be missing due to injury.
"Only one bit of team news, yesterday Danny Drinkwater had a muscular
problem in his calf. We are waiting to check the problem but only this.
"Eden Hazard is in the group and the squad and he's working very well to
find the best physical condition, but I think he needs a bit of time to
continue to improve and to avoid taking a stupid risk.
"But now he is available and he will come on to the bench. Eden last season
played an amazing season and is a top player and we are looking forward to
having him in our team.
"We know the importance of this player. He is an important player for us but
for sure, during this period, we are focused to play without him and we've
tried to win every game."
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