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Cape Town - Antonio
Conte knows Chelsea will struggle to compete on two fronts next season
as he contemplates adding Champions League football to his team's
domestic Premier League campaign.
The Blues, who are storming to the title, with four games to play, have been without European competition this term as a result of finishing 10th in their previous campaign.
They are though also on course to claim the FA Cup ahead of a final with Arsenal.
Speaking ahead of his side's league match with Middlesbrough on Monday, the Italian said that the Premier League is a different animal to the rest of Europe.
He said: "This league is very difficult. It's strong. It's a totally different to the Italian or Spanish leagues.
"Every single game you must fight a lot and, I think, also, for this reason, it's not easy to arrive at the end of a European competition.
"Also for the national team, it's very difficult to try and do very well in the World Cup or the Euros because you arrive at the end of the season and the players are tired.
"Every game is very tough, every game you must put all yourself in the game.
"If you think you're playing for a team who is playing at the medium level, you're actually preparing for a defeat."
Chelsea need six points to win the title.
