Chelsea travel to the Riverside stadium to play Middlesborough in the FA Cup fifth-round on Wednesday with manager Rafael Benitez desperate to avoid a replay.
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The Blues have played 47 games this season, more games than any team in the Premier League, and the Spaniard admits fixture congestion and fatigue are starting to take their toll on his squad.
"The team that has played more games this season is Chelsea but we have to manage the squad as we can," he told Sky Sports News. "Yes, players get tired and need a rest but we have to be able to cope with that.
"It is not an ideal scenario but we have had to deal the problem in the past and of course we will do so again. We will try to win for sure. In my head the only thing is to win this game."
Participation in the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup means they have played six more games than London rivals Arsenal (41) and seven more then their probable quarter-final opponents Manchester United (40).
Despite this, the former Liverpool boss is convinced his side have the talent to challenge for the FA Cup and secure a Champions League place for next season.
"We have had a lot of very good games this year and we have a very good group of players. If we do the things we have to do, we can win against anyone," the 52-year-old added.
"This is a good team with good players. Our target is to finish in the top four, top three. We will see.
"I like to talk with them every day, and they are all convinced we would finish in the top three."
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