Chelsea hope that tensions surrounding Antonio Conte will lift now the transfer window has closed as the club try to see out the season positively with their head coach.

Conte is expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer, but, despite the Italian’s warnings that the rest of the campaign will be a struggle, Chelsea still believe the club have a lot to play for.

Other than simply fighting to secure a top-four place, Chelsea have an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Championship strugglers Hull City to look forward to and face Barcelona in the last-16 of the Champions League.

Conte’s outlook over the past month has been relatively negative and he has caused some annoyance with suggestions that he had nothing to do with the club’s transfer policy.

But Chelsea reaffirmed their commitment to trying to help Conte by signing 31-year-old striker Olivier Giroud for £18million, having not paid a significant fee for an outfield player aged over 30 for a number of years.

The Blues now hope that with Giroud to support Alvaro Morata and Emerson Palmieri to lift some of the burden on left wing-back Marcos Alonso, that Conte’s disposition will be more positive.