Chelsea: Antonio Conte handing more players more minutes than in 2016/17

Antonio Conte kept Cesar Azpilicueta and Eden Hazard in reserve for Chelsea’s match against Swansea City. Despite questions about keeping players happy, Conte is already spreading the minutes around more liberally this season compared to last.

Last season, Antonio Conte was able to name a relatively unchanged side week after week in the Premier League. This season, with the participation in the Champions League and a longer run in the Carabao Cup, Chelsea have had to rotate on a more regular basis.

Throughout 2016/2017, Chelsea played a total of 47 games, with 19 coming before the turn of the year. This time around, Chelsea will have played 30 games before the new year. They are likely to play at least 60 by the time the season is over, depending on their length of their cup runs.

This means Antonio Conte has to use his squad a lot more carefully. Last campaign, his settled starting XI – Cesar Azpilicueta, Diego Costa, Gary Cahill, N’Golo Kante, Thibaut Courtois, David Luiz, Eden Hazard, Marcos Alonso, Nemanja Matic, Victor Moses and Pedro all played at least 60% of the minutes available in the league. The first seven of those played at least 85%.

This campaign, only three of the squad (Courtois, Alonso and Azpilicueta) have played over 80%. The amount of playing time has been distributed more evenly around the squad. Sixteen players have played in a third of the minutes available. Danny Drinkwater is a complete game away, and Michy Batshuayi is only four minutes short. Both would have appeared more if not for injury.

Antonio Conte spoke recently about the need for rotation and how the players would react to this:

"Every game I have to try to make the best decision and try to protect every player. I’d like to start every game with the best players, but at the same time this is not possible. This is not possible, otherwise I don’t protect them. It’s not easy to leave (out) great players to rest, but I have to do this. – TalkSport"

One benefit of using more of the squad is fringe players will be match sharp when called upon if an injury occurs. Chelsea were lucky with injuries last season, but with an increasing number of games in this campaign, more injuries are inevitable.

Chelsea have an adequate backup for most positions, with the obvious exception of left wing-back. Alonso has played over 95% of the Premier League games so far, a sign that Antonio Conte does not have confidence in anyone else playing there. Pedro, Kenedy and Azpilicueta have had short spells in that position, but they are not ideal.

Next: Conte, Cahill, Sanches and Moses with notable moments in dry win

With nine fixtures in December, expect to see more rotation in the coming weeks. Depending on what happens between now and January, Conte may request a new addition at left wing-back in the January transfer window. Perhaps the return of forgotten man Baba Rahman could provide an easier solution?