Chelsea have exceeded all expectations under Antonio Conte this season. The Blues, who finished 10th in the Premier League last season, endured a tough start under their new manager Antonio Conte before his well documented masterstroke move to a new system.

Their run to the top of the Premier League, where they are currently eight points clear of their nearest challengers in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, has been nothing short of remarkable with the side looking the polar opposite of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea last season.

However, one thing that their run has been heavily attributed to is a lack of European competition. Given their league finish last time out the 2014/15 Premier League champions have not had any Champions League or Europa League football to factor in this season.

Therefore, with a much thinner schedule than clubs of Chelsea’s stature are used to, Conte has been able to field a settled eleven more often than not this season, which has obvious benefits as the further a set team go together, the more they will understand each other’s games, meaning that soon enough playing together becomes second nature.

Whilst the top players, which Chelsea certainly have, are often more than capable of performing regardless of which side is picked, it will always be a benefit to play with the same players week in, week out, whatever level you’re at.

Chelsea are reaping the rewards of being able to play a settled side this season, however, one question that has been raised is how they’ll cope when European football returns to Stamford Bridge once again next season, just how will Conte juggle his side to keep things going at similar levels to this term.

Well, as much as it was a win over Championship opposition, the Blues FA Cup fifth round victory provides an example that fans can take heart from.

The game certainly didn’t go as Conte will have hoped all the way through, his side had to battle their way to a 2-0 win, with the deadlock broken well into the second half.

However, the side which was fielded was, in terms of this season, very much a second string team, however it was compromised of names such as John Terry, Kurt Zouma and Cesc Fabregas not to shabby it has to be said.
This side which might earn a tie with Manchester United in the quarter-final of the FA Cup would do well against almost all Premier League opposition.

Therefore, with that in mind, although a win against Paul Lambert’s side is no surprise this season, it just shows the depth Conte will have on his hands next term. European hangover? No problem.