Chelsea are back in FA Cup action this weekend as they look to book a place in a Wembley semi-final. The clash, which for the first time cannot got to a replay, will be decided on Monday night and Blues fans will be confident of securing their spot in the last four.

However, there is just the small issue of former manager Jose Mourinho and his Manchester United side standing between Antonio Conte and his first visit to the national stadium as Chelsea manager.

The Red Devils were on the end of a 4-0 hiding when they visited Stamford Bridge earlier this season, which may make this quarter-final appear a formality, however, the side which will turn up in west London on Monday night is vastly different from that which left in October having been humiliated.

Since that defeat earlier in the season Mourinho’s side have lost just once, a EFL Cup second leg at Hull City – which still wasn’t enough to stop them winning the competition, and are arguably the closest to Chelsea in terms of form in the Premier League. Whilst they are still stuck in that sixth place, having been outside of the top four for sixth months, the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba and former Blue Juan Mata are firing on all cylinders.

Going into the quarter-final draw, United were certainly Conte’s closest challengers for the famous old trophy which, having been arguably undermined by the big teams in it’s earlier stages, is now reaching the serious end, albeit with non-league Lincoln City remaining in the hat.

Therefore, looking around the rest of the draw, despite Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, second placed Tottenham and Arsenal still remaining in the competition, and favourites to make it through their ties, you would not be afraid of backing the winner of Monday’s clash to go all the way.

Therefore, should Conte and his men put in the sort of performances we all know they are capable of come Monday night, then fans can start to get seriously excited about a cup and league double in the Italian’s maiden season in English football.

With the imperious Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, Conte’s back five will be confident of handling whomever Mourinho selects to deputise for the Swede, so long as the midfield duo ahead of them, whether that be Cesc Fabregas or Nemanja Matic alongside N’Golo Kante, keep up their sterling form.

After last season’s woes, no Chelsea fan would have seriously been expecting a double under Conte this season, however, beat Manchester United on Monday night and they are almost there.