Changes to Expect Under Antonio Conte at Chelsea

Antonio Conte kept us guessing about what changes he would be deploying at Chelsea ahead of the Italian taking official charge at Stamford Bridge this summer.

The big conversation revolved around his formation. Would it be a 3-5-2 at Chelsea? Would he keep the 4-2-3-1 that had seen the Blues win the title in 2014/15 but then fail so miserably a year later?

In his opening two pre-season matches, we've seen Conte answer that question. Chelsea are now playing 4-2-4, with better use of wingers and, importantly, two strikers to give them a better presence in the final third.

Working with a medley of players in his first week or so, we can expect this to evolve in the coming days. With players still on holiday after Euro 2016, Conte has been introducing his new ways of working with Chelsea's fringe players in their week-long stay in Austria.

Now that Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and others are back in time for the Blues' pre-season tour of the U.S. that sees them depart London for Los Angeles on Sunday, what changes can we expect as Conte ramps up his preparations? Bleacher Report takes a closer look at some key areas.

N'Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas to form a midfield partnership

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Against Rapid Vienna and RZ Pellets, Chelsea's midfield combination was makeshift. Conte started with Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel against Rapid, switching to a Matic-Oscar partnership for the midweek clash with RZ Pellets.

The latter were not as tough opponents as Rapid, although that shouldn't disguise the fact Chelsea's midfield partnership functioned better. Oscar is more dynamic than Mikel at getting the ball forward, which is key for whoever sits in that central area.

For the 4-2-4 to be effective, Conte needs a balance in the middle, which Matic and Oscar offered. Whoever it is playing in there must strengthen the team defensively and on the attack.

Now that Fabregas and new boy Kante will be available for action in the U.S., Conte will probably look to change things up again in midfield, with that duo becoming a partnership.

Based on last season's form, Kante will offer a marked improvement on Matic in a defensive sense, allowing Fabregas to do what he does best. The Spaniard is an expert at picking out team-mates from deep, and with the safeguard of a reliable defensive midfielder alongside him, he can get back to focusing on his strengths.

He did that in 2014/15 and was a big reason for Chelsea winning the title.

Eden Hazard as the second striker

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Could we be about to see the next stage of progress for Hazard in his career as he attempts to emulate the success of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?

What makes that duo so formidable is the goals they score. They are prolific in the extreme, breaking all sorts of records in the past few seasons. Their undoubted talent has been the main reason for that, although we shouldn't overlook a switch to playing more centrally.

It's by being in the middle that goals are scored, and with Conte looking at his striking options, we shouldn't be surprised if he opts to test Hazard out alongside Diego Costa.

The Belgian has played as a striker for Chelsea before but always as the lone frontman. By playing alongside Costa, Hazard will have a player to offer a physical presence that he can't.

Indeed, the pair have the potential to create something exciting. With Hazard's technical ability and Costa's eye for goal, they have qualities that complement each other. And Hazard showed in 2014/15 he's not shy in front of goal himself, bagging 19 goals in all competitions en route to being named Player of the Year.

Hazard playing through the middle also takes out the problem of him defending in wide areas. It's not a side of his game he's known for, and for Conte's system to work best, he needs his wingers to be tracking back as much as they are going forward.

Cesar Azpilicueta to go back to his roots

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Branislav Ivanovic injured his shoulder against RZ Pellets, so he was substituted at half-time. Ola Aina switched from left-back to right-back and did a good job of showing the faults that have crept into Ivanovic's game—notably with his lack of pace.

Now 32, Ivanovic is looking leggy, and that has to be a concern for Conte. It's only early pre-season, but it seems the problems from last year have carried over to the present for Ivanovic, and the question must be how long he can last on the flanks.

Indeed, Ivanovic showed when John Terry was out injured last year that he has a future in central defence—which is his natural position anyway—and given the athleticism Aina demonstrated on Wednesday, it reinforces the fact.

Aina isn't first-team quality at right-back yet. Not because he isn't good enough, but because Chelsea have a better option in Cesar Azpilicueta. The Spaniard has been forced to play out of position on the left for the past few years, and now the time seems right for him to be drafted back to a more familiar role.

Ola Aina and Baba Rahman to battle for the left-back spot

Dusan Vranic/Associated Press

Should Azpilicueta move to right-back, it leaves a gap in Chelsea's defence on the left. That means either Baba Rahman is given a chance to establish himself or Conte looks elsewhere.

Given how Aina has performed on the right and left in pre-season, he must surely be a candidate to rival Rahman. That said, the latter is gradually beginning to look like a Chelsea player. Rahman is a big threat in attack, and the prospect of him doubling up in attacking areas with a left winger gives Chelsea a massive threat.

Defensively, Rahman seems to be maturing. He still has faults in his game, yet it's only by playing regularly that he will eradicate them and grow in confidence.

One thing we can count on is that Aina's first couple of performances for Conte have given the manager something to think about. The youngster has stepped up to give Chelsea an option in an area few thought one existed before a fortnight ago.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes