When Antonio Conte took charge of Chelsea at the start of the season, Cesc Fabregas couldn’t break into the starting eleven.

Even a switch to three at the back didn’t open the door for the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder with N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic playing in the middle.

Comparisons to Juan Mata’s treatment at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho were quickly drawn. The now Manchester United duo have begun working in harmony in their new surroundings, despite Mata rarely afforded starts, quite similar to the Conte-Fabregas dynamic in west London.

When the Spaniard was finally given his chance, he regularly impressed with his playmaking, providing assist after assist and while he still hasn’t managed to establish himself in the first team, Conte has bestowed upon him the highest compliment he could offer a midfielder.

The Italian has branded Fabregas a genius and claims he can be Chelsea’s Andrea Pirlo who was Conte’s midfield linchpin for Juventus and Italy.

“Cesc is a top player and is a genius at football. I can talk in the same way about Andrea Pirlo,” Conte said. “If he 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.”

There’s certainly plenty Fabregas has to offer and Conte recognises that but will he ever be able to do enough to displace either Kante or Matic?

Share with us your thoughts by commenting below, using #360fans on Twitter or getting in touch via Facebook.