Issues new Chelsea boss must sort out

Antonio Conte makes his first public appearance on Thursday as Chelsea’s new manager. Once the chatting is done he will have plenty of work to do. These issues may or may not be clogging up his in-tray as he prepares for the season opener against West Ham on 15 August.

Bring on the youth players:

Antonio Conte makes his first public appearance as Chelsea's new manager. Once the chatting is done he will have plenty of work to do. Credit: AP

Chelsea have an appalling record of getting their youth players into the first team. They are brilliant at sweeping up the best young talent but far too often these youngsters are loaned out, loaned out and loaned out again but rarely grace the Stamford Bridge pitch.

Without opportunities to prove themselves how can these players make the grade? It's a vicious circle that needs bravery to break. Isn't it time Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah, who was on loan at Napoli last season so may have mastered Conte's language and can ask him for a chance, were given game time?

Sort the defence:

Although it seems he might just, John Terry surely cannot go on forever. Gary Cahill, while wholehearted and determined, is not world-class (the Euros taught us that, just in case we were wavering). Kurt Zouma is injured and will miss the start of the season and Branislav Ivanovic's powers are on the wane. Chelsea need to find reinforcements in the centre of defence or they risk shipping goals with the alarming regularity of last season and that will not please an Italian coach one bit. The Italian centre-half Leonardo Bonucci has played under Conte and has been mentioned. He is 29 but would be ideal as a medium-term option while Zouma irons out the inevitable wrinkles that come with a 21-year-old. Centre-halves will be even more important if Conte asks Chelsea to play with a back three, his preferred tactical option.

Get Eden Hazard firing:

The Belgian midfielder gave a timely reminder of his wonderful talents in his country's demolition of Hungary in the Euros round of 16. That form, that went AWOL under Jose Mourinho last season, needs to be recovered for Chelsea to be successful. Hazard is unique in the Chelsea team, with vision, the ability to beat a man and a cool finish. What's not to like when the stars align? Conte needs to line them up.

Mould the midfield:

Chelsea's midfield last season was pedestrian with a lack of energy (Willian being a notable exception) with Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic too often trotting around the paddock. An injection of drive is needed, which explains the club's interest in N'Golo Kante. Secure the Leicester man's services and the picture is immediately rosier.

Keep Diego Costa happy:

Arguably the impossible job given Diego Costa's combustible nature but a happy Costa is a goalscoring Costa.

And with only the green Michy Batshuayi, the 22-year-old Belgian striker, as an alternative it is vital to get the Spaniard firing again. He has had a summer on the beach having failed to make Spain's Euro squad so may have rid himself of the niggles that dogged him last term. – The Independent