Antonio Conte: I'd like to start every game with the best players but this is not possible.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Swansea at Stamford Bridge tonight, Antonio Conte has a clear message for his players heading into the busy festive period. 

Between now and January 3rd, Antonio Conte and his Chelsea squad face ELEVEN games with an average of a game every three days. Nine of those are in the Premier League with our final Champions League group game and the Carabao Cup to play during the next four weeks.

Ahead of the busy period which let's face it, has already seen us play three games over the last seven days including the extensive travelling to Azerbaijan, Antonio Conte has stated that it is impossible for his players to play in every game. He said:

"I'd like to start every game with the best players but, at the same time, this is not possible.

Otherwise I don't protect them. I take a risk I think is not right to take.

Especially because the season has just started and we have a long season. For this reason, I have to try to protect every player. At the same time, it's not simple, not easy to leave great players (out) to rest. But I have to do this.

I want the best for the team, the best for the players. I try to protect my team and my players." - Source: Daily Mail.

He talks alot of sense here and it's important that we come through this period with the least amount of injuries as possible. With our involvement in the Champions League this season it was always going to be a season of rotation because of the demands that involves with travel etc in addition to playing in the Premier League.

Without being disrespectful to any of the clubs we are due to face in the Premier League and Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup, the games against Atletico next week and Arsenal away on January 3rd are the toughest we have to face on paper. The others would be an ideal opportunity to rotate his players such as Swansea tonight with the likes of Danny Drinkwater, Pedro and Willian all tipped to come into the side to start as Antonio Conte looks to rotate and rest key players. Be doing so, it's an ideal opportunity for these players to impress the boss which hopefully will lead to impressive and good performances leading to plenty of victories as we look to close the gap to Manchester United first, then onto Manchester City.

Trust in Conte.