Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has explained why Cesc Fabregas is playing more regularly this season.

Prior to last season's festive schedule, the midfielder had only started four games under the Italian boss.

In the end, though, the Spaniard became a crucial part of the Blues' title win and in the 2017-18 campaign, Fabregas has made 21 appearances in all competitions, including 12 starts.

"I think Cesc at the start of the last season did not play a lot, but I was very happy because through work he tried to change my mind and it happened," Conte told reporters.

"If you remember the second part of last season he started to play with regularity. The first part of the season I decided to play almost every game with [N'Golo] Kante and [Nemanja] Matic but in the second part of the season I think Cesc played a lot of the games.

"I think he was very important for us to win the title last season. In this season he has continued to work very hard and he's shown me great commitment, great behaviours."

Fabregas has created four assists and scored two goals so far in the campaign.