Insider: What Chelsea boss Antonio Conte did during the international break

Antonio Conte used the international break as an opportunity to recharge his batteries after a gruelling start to the season, according to Pat Nevin.

The Chelsea boss has earned plenty of praise for the impact he has had at Stamford Bridge this season since his appointment at the west London club last summer.

The Italian boss has led the Blues to the top of the Premier League table, with Conte’s men currently 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blues are also through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where they will take on Spurs at Wembley next month.

Conte is still getting used to life in the Premier League but it will have been a busy first season at the club.

And former Chelsea star Nevin feels that the Italian manager would have been given a chance to recharge his batteries and focus on the remaining few weeks of the campaign in recent days.

Writing in his column for Chelsea’s website, Nevin said: “I actually think this [the international break] has been a good thing for the club generally, and maybe for the manager more than anyone else it has been an opportunity to take stock.

“He will have had a chance to recharge, though he never looks as if he needs that, and maybe even get a bit of family time which he has certainly missed since he arrived in London.

“It also gave him a little more time to involve himself in that other vitally important piece of work, planning for the future.”

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Chelsea host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday as they look to keep their title bid on track.