Last Updated: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:04
Roberto Di Matteo says the Chelsea players are struggling to cope with the heavy fixture schedule ahead of the Benfica clash.
The Blues face the Portuguese side in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after fighting back bravely to knock out Napoli, while they have also faced huge games in the Premier League and FA Cup.
Chelsea lost to Manchester City in midweek before being held to a 0-0 draw against Tottenham on Saturday and Di Matteo says the amount of games they are playing and the importance of them, is taking its toll on the players.
Chelsea take on Benfica in the first-leg tomorrow night and Di Matteo says he will do his best to put a team together that is capable of getting a result.
"We are playing big games every three days and that is taking its toll," Di Matteo told reporters ahead of the game. "Physically and mentally it's very demanding.
"There's not much time to recover and stay fresh. So we will have to see how the players are and put a team together that has the energy to get a result against Benfica."
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