Antonio Conte's Use of Ruben Loftus-Cheek Shows How He's Innovating at Chelsea

LONDON — It's been a difficult task to attempt criticism of Antonio Conte in any form since he took charge at Chelsea this summer. The Italian has entered the fray at Stamford Bridge with something resembling the Midas touch.

After charming journalists at his opening press conference, Conte has changed Chelsea's system to give them a renewed strength. Eden Hazard is looking back to his best under the new boss, while two wins from two in the Premier League has given hope for a title challenge in 2016/17.

Speak of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, however, and eyebrows are raised. From the moment Conte first selected the Chelsea youngster in pre-season against Rapid Vienna, we've been questioning what his plans are. Loftus-Cheek has suddenly become a striker under Conte, not playing as a midfielder or anywhere near his natural position. Instead, he's supporting Diego Costa these days.

On Tuesday evening, Loftus-Cheek partnered Michy Batshuayi in a 3-2 win against Bristol Rovers in the EFL Cup. Unlike pre-season, when Loftus-Cheek seemed to struggle with his new responsibilities, he was excellent. Indeed, it was probably the 20-year-old's best performance in a Chelsea shirt.

Loftus-Cheek was back to using his body in the way we saw him do so effectively in youth football. He was bursting past players, putting his physicality to good use as he bamboozled defenders. After 21 minutes, he almost scored the game's opening goal, smashing his long-range effort back off the upright after powering beyond Rovers' Peter Hartley.

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That moment made us sit up and take notice. Loftus-Cheek looked a completely different player to the one we have seen before. Regardless of the opposition, he looked senior.

After training for six weeks or so with Conte, it was a sign that the manager's methods are beginning to take hold. Back in Vienna against Rapid in July, Loftus-Cheek had spent barely a week with Conte, so his new position was always going to be difficult to adapt to.

Fast-forward to late August, though, and he's proving us wrong about those early doubts. The signs are there that Conte's developing Loftus-Cheek into a fine talent—just one we didn't expect him to become.

As if to undermine our early assumptions all the more, Conte revealed on Tuesday that we've been wrong with how we've understood this new position; Loftus-Cheek isn't playing as a striker but in a more hybrid role.

"He played a good game with a good intensity," the Chelsea boss responded when Bleacher Report asked about Loftus-Cheek's overall performance. "He did everything I wanted; in a defensive situation, he became a midfielder and when we were attacking, he became a forward.

"I'm happy for his commitment, for his attitude. I think he's a player who has great potential. He's a young player who can improve a lot, but I'm happy because I see him every day during our training sessions, and he wants to improve. He wants to work very hard, and I like this.

"

Wonderful from Loftus Cheek, slipped in perfectly by Fabregas and finished by Batshuayi. BUZZING 

— ChelseaFansChannel (@ChelseaFansYT) August 23, 2016"

"I think he has the right characteristics to play in this [hybrid] role because he is physically very strong and is very good to play from the back. He has good technique and sees the goal very well. He can shoot, and I think he can also play in the role [as a striker or midfielder]."

Watching Loftus-Cheek's part in Batshuayi's first goal of the game, on the half hour, was a case in point. It was Loftus-Cheek who held the ball up for Nemanja Matic's looping run, releasing the midfielder to cross for Batshuayi, who made no mistake from close range.

Ten minutes later, Loftus-Cheek was rolling a defender and breaking into the box to square for Batshuayi, who had an easy tap-in to double his tally for the night and put Chelsea back in control at 3-1.

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After the interval, Pedro stole possession on the halfway line and released Loftus-Cheek, who was charging at the back four from deep. He looked an unstoppable force as he blasted his way to the edge of the box, firing his effort wide.

The goal wasn't forthcoming for him on the night, but on this evidence, we can expect that quality to come. It was an awesome sight to see Loftus-Cheek imposing himself on the game. It smacked of a newfound confidence and belief from the player that he can give Chelsea something they don't already have.

Gone is the 4-2-3-1 at Chelsea these days, and with Loftus-Cheek working back and forth between midfield and attack, his role is no longer the same as the No. 10 position where Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink saw him playing. That was never going to work, as Loftus-Cheek doesn't have the technical ability to craft out openings in the tight spaces where a No. 10 will operate.

Instead, Conte has unleashed him. By dropping deeper in defensive situations, Loftus-Cheek is joining attacks at pace, thus using his attributes while on the move and not being static. That meant Bristol Rovers couldn't cope with him at times, and he caused Darrell Clarke's side some big problems as they attempted to contain him.

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What Conte has done is tap into the best of everything that Loftus-Cheek offers, with those raw physical powers a big part of it. In so doing, he's saving Chelsea big money in the future, as they're transforming him into something the club needs.

Chelsea already boast Cesc Fabregas and Oscar to unlock defences, while N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic are the defensive presence. What they lack is a box-to-box player who can contribute in both halves—which is exactly what Loftus-Cheek produced on Tuesday evening.

Defensively, he did his job, and going forward, he was part of everything positive Chelsea achieved. It put a new meaning on the false-nine ideal, as Loftus-Cheek was playing alongside a player in Batshuayi who was deployed as an out-and-out striker.

Through Loftus-Cheek, Conte is bringing together those two styles, and they complement the other.

The criticism will be that we were watching all this take place against League 1 opponents. That has its merits, but in its infancy, it would be an act of folly for Conte to be testing Loftus-Cheek's development on a bigger stage.

We're not ready for that yet, but the EFL Cup certainly is. Conte is continuing to innovate at Chelsea, with Loftus-Cheek evidently a big part of that process. It's probably why Bertrand Traore was allowed to leave on another loan spell, as that third-striker position is beginning to look like it belongs to Loftus-Cheek.

Tuesday night saw baby steps in his development, yet we can't ignore the hints at something more exciting at Stamford Bridge.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes