Antonio Conte Would Be Unwise to Sell Chelsea's Lock-Picker, Cesc Fabregas

It was always going to be a big talking point when Cesc Fabregas was left out of Chelsea's lineup against West Ham United on Monday night. Antonio Conte's new era was starting without one of the biggest names in his squad in the first-choice XI. It looked far from positive for the Spaniard.

More surprising than Fabregas' omission was that it was one of the last questions before the subject was broached in the head coach's post-match press conference.

"Cesc is Chelsea's player," Conte told journalists. "I'm happy about him, with his attitude and his behaviour during our training sessions. You must know as it happened before that a great team like Chelsea [some players don't always start].

"I have to make a decision before the game to choose a starting XI, and it can happen in this situation that Fabregas isn't in the team. It can happen for all the players. It's important to see the right attitude, the right behaviour, because we must fight this season.

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"It's important to stay together all season. Then the shape can improve and change the situation. Now, I took this decision, but next game, we don't know. I can change, but I don't know."

That next game is against Watford on Saturday, and given what we've seen after the Premier League's opening round of matches, the expectation would be that Fabregas remains on the bench.

The issue he faces is the intensity that Conte has Chelsea playing at. It's high, with quick movement and aggression through the middle being the staple of Monday's 2-1 win over the Hammers. Chelsea didn't just beat their London rivals by scoring more goals; they outfought them to earn the right to outplay them.

With Nemanja Matic in the middle with Oscar, supported by N'Golo Kante in behind, Chelsea were able to harry West Ham in their own half and turn over possession in key areas. The pace of the game was unrelenting at times, with players zipping through the middle of the park to exploit gaps.

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The Hammers struggled to pick up Chelsea's runners, and Cheikhou Kouyate—normally so dependable for West Ham manager Slaven Bilic—was a stranger to the action as the Blues played around him and dominated his physicality.

Now the question for Conte is whether Fabregas can do that. On the evidence of his entire career, the answer is no. His game isn't about that; there is much more finesse to how the Spain international operates, and by adding him in the middle of the park, his team-mates have to indulge his attributes.

That doesn't mean he has to be moved out of Stamford Bridge. It's quite the opposite.

We saw last season that the games Chelsea won convincingly—there were more than their mid-table finish suggests—Fabregas was the man at the wheel, steering Chelsea's path to victory. Take Bournemouth in April when the Blues stormed to a 4-1 victory and blitzed Eddie Howe's side in the process.

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For all his struggles (as well as the team's) that season, it was a reminder of what a talent the 29-year-old is. When afforded space and time, he pulls the strings and makes everything happen.

The problem is that in the Premier League, teams aren't afforded the luxury of playing those games every week. Sometimes a little more substance is needed, especially in a Monday night game to open the campaign against London rivals.

It may have been his first game in English football, but Conte showed a deep understanding for what it all meant. There was no lesson to be learned against the Hammers, as the Italian already knew what was in store and matched it.

Rather than being caught out, Conte's Chelsea showed the steel and determination needed to win such a game. And when they travel to Vicarage Road at the weekend, they will need to do it all again, which is why we shouldn't be expecting to see Fabregas.

Let's not forget, however, that the Blues face Burnley, Swansea City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Hull City and Leicester City before Jose Mourinho's Manchester United arrive at Stamford Bridge on October 23.

Many of those games are tailor-made for Fabregas. To break down a stubborn Burnley, Conte's side will need a player in the middle of the park with no shortage of vision and the ability to pick out the runs of the frontmen. It'll be the same against Swansea and Hull, while a midfielder capable of moving the ball forward efficiently against Arsenal will also be vital.

In every aspect, Fabregas is the man Conte should be turning to. There isn't a better player at Chelsea to incorporate that sort of role. Oscar and Matic impressed against West Ham for different reasons, but without the former Barcelona man, the Blues run the risk of being a one-dimensional side.

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Those three players, along with Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mikel John Obi, need to coexist. Collectively, they give Chelsea options to react in matches and to situations throughout the season.

When the proverbial hit the fan in 2015/16, it was a failure to react that ultimately proved Chelsea's downfall. They were predictable, we knew the lineup every week and opponents combated it.

Through utilising players in different roles, Conte has got Chelsea back to creating problems. Teams are going to have to think about them a lot more than they have in the past 12 months.

Take Fabregas out of it and it's a different outcome. Not starting against West Ham shouldn't signify the end of his Chelsea career. He has so much to offer Conte's revolution.

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