Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says he is delighted to see his side on course to meet their first target of the season by returning to the Champions League.

The Blues are currently placed first in the Premier League with 63 points and have won 20 out of 26 matches played so far this season, ahead of their London Derby against West Ham United on Monday.

The Italian manager says that fighting until the end of the campaign to qualify for the Champions League, was the first goal he set his squad when he arrived last summer, but he also insisted that he will fight till the end to clinch his first Premier League title.

‘We start our season to try to fight until the end to win the title, to try to fight until the end to be in the right position to go in the Champions League next season,’ Conte told the Chelsea website.

‘This was our target, but for sure it isn’t easy and at the start of the season there were six strong teams to fight for the title, to fight for the Champions League.

‘Don’t forget, of these six teams, two won’t play in the Champions League next season. So in this league, it is very, very difficult to win the title, but also to find a place to play in the Champions League is not easy.’

Conte insists that he is anticipating a very ‘tough’ match against Slaven Bilic’s side, but he is confident that the Blues have prepared well and are ready to take on their London rivals.

‘This game against West Ham for us is very important. In the last game for sure they played their football very peacefully against us,’ he added.

‘Maybe it can happen again the same against West Ham tonight, but for this reason, we are preparing for this kind of situation. It can be a really tough game.’

Chelsea will now travel to the London Stadium when they take on West Ham United in the Premier League on Monday.

Kick-off has been scheduled for 22:00.