Cesc Fabregas has hardly been an automatic pick in Chelsea’s starting XI since the arrival of Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge, but this apparently has nothing to do with the Italian manager’s opinion of the Spanish midfielder’s quality as a football player.
“Cesc is a top player and is a genius at football, I can talk in the same way about Andrea Pirlo,” Conte said at a press conference ahead of the Sunday clash with Burnley.
"If Cesc doesn't run 100 metres in 10 seconds, I can allow him this, because he's a genius with the ball. His velocity is in his mind.”
So if Fabregas is comparable to the Italian maestro which was a key player for Conte when he was in charge of Juventus, why has the Spaniard only started on five occasions in this Premier League season?
"Sometimes you must make the decision and to look at the balance of the team,” Conte explained.
“For me, Cesc is an important player, and I try to put him always in the best condition to give us his best for the team.
"Don't forget that Kante is playing in his position. A lot of people said that he is the best player in the league.
“And then there is also Matic, whoI think is playing in an outstanding way.
"When you have two players in front of you playing so well, it's not easy.
“For me, sometimes it's very difficult to make the best decision.”