Conte takes selection ‘risk’ in his stride as he contemplates fixture pile-up

Head coach Antonio Conte is poised to rotate his players when Chelsea make their Champions League return against Qarabag of Azerbaijan tonight in the second of seven games in September.

Sunday’s league clash with Arsenal follows before a midweek Carabao Cup tie with Nottingham Forest and the calibre of domestic opposition means it is difficult to rest players according to the Italian, pictured,who said: “You are never relaxed in England, because you have to play a tough league and also FA Cup and also Carabao Cup.

“Now we are starting to play the Champions League. To play 60, 65 games it’s normal, but it’s not easy.”

“The risk could be to play with the same players as against Leicester and then after the game ‘why didn’t you change the team that was tired?’ “You know very well if you win you’ve made the best decision, if you lose you’ve made the worst decision.

Eden Hazard is likely to continue as a substitute after returning from a broken ankle, while Gary Cahill, the club captain, is desperate to play after a three-match ban for his sending off in the seasonopener against Burnley. “I feel like my season’s just starting,” the England defender said. “I’m itching to play.”

Barcelona face Juventus, their conquerors in last season’s quarter-finals, and head coach Ernesto Valverde anticipates an “intense” encounter.

“Juventus are a great team,” Valverde said. “Last year they caused us a lot of problems so we need to be careful. I’m expecting an intense and important game between two top sides.

“We’re starting the Champions League with competitive enthusiasm. We’re going through a good period, we just won the derby (against Espanyol) 5-0 but we also have to get three points.”

Romaheadcoacheusebiodi Francesco has identified midfield enforcer Kevin Strootman as his most powerful weapon ahead of their clash with Atletico Madrid.

Both teams are attackminded – Roma hit 90 league goals last term while Atletico smashed five past Las Palmas on Gran Canaria last month.

But Di Francesco thinks the game will be won or lost in midfield – and Dutch passmaster Strootman could be key to the outcome. He said: “Strootman is a leader both in training and on the pitch. He is a decisive player who knows how to lift the team. We will need players like him tomorrow, while I am counting on them all.

“We will need his strength of character against Atletico – he will be our main weapon.”