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Pat Nevin: Antonio Conte could hand Chelsea a huge boost this week by doing this
CHELSEA can afford to rest players this week as they do not have to compete in Europe like their Premier League rivals, according to Pat Nevin.
Antonio Conte has the luxury of resting his players this week
Chelsea face Wolves in the FA Cup on Saturday (5.30pm) and do not have a gruelling European schedule like many of their title rivals.
Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday while Tottenham and Manchester United both have Europa League fixtures on Thursday night.
And Blues legend Pat Nevin thinks Antonio Conte could take this time to rest some of his key players, keeping them fresh for the title run-in.
Chelsea do not have a European fixture this week
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"Some of the current Chelsea lads might even get a little break this week if the boss is feeling particularly generous," Nevin wrote in his Chelsea column.
"Who knows? Maybe even a little jaunt to sunnier climes and suddenly the sympathy has totally evaporated again.
"It is however important to use this time wisely because of the amount of travelling and the number of games most of our rivals have to cope with right now compared to us.
"This morning I am off over to Munich to cover the Bayern v Arsenal game and know it will have at least some effect on Wenger’s men.
"Freshness and fitness will be key over the next couple of months as well as the attitude of the players.
Freshness and fitness will be key over the next couple of months
"The weather will soon change and I suspect that will suit us too.
"There are 13 league games left and a few of them will be a grind just like Sunday at Burnley’s tight Turf Moor.
"But if we show the same sort of attitude every week I suspect we will be okay."
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