Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez insists they can handle an extended Europa League run.

Benitez is unfazed at the prospect of regular Thursday and Sunday fixtures which Europa League progress dictates, although it does limit the amount of time he has to work with his squad.

"Two games a week we can manage, if we have enough bodies," said the Spaniard, who won the UEFA Cup with Valencia and Champions League with Liverpool.

"Normally when you want to improve your team tactically, you push them. But in this situation you can't because if you push them too much they will be tired. The balance is quite difficult.

"The day after a game you have a light training session. The second day is before the game, so you have a light training session. Then you have to play. That means when you try to do your tactical adjustments, your preparation, you cannot do too much."