Chelsea boss Antonio Conte reveals Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko will miss the Community Shield clash with Arsenal
CHELSEA boss Antonio Conte has revealed Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko will miss the Community Shield clash with Arsenal.
The Italian chief also claimed the midfield duo will be missing for the Premier League opener against Burnley next weekend.
Conte said both players are currently working hard to recover from their respective surgeries this summer.
Hazard is currently working his way back from an ankle injury, while ex-Monaco man Bakayoko had routine keyhole surgery on his knee.
On Chelsea's Wembley showdown on Sunday, Conte claimed he wants to send a statement by starting the season strongly.
He said: "We want to try to start the season with a win.
"I hope to see a good game from the players and for the people.
"This is the first trophy of the season. It's an important game. We want to play a good game with good intensity.
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"We must have the will to try to win the game. It won't be easy but we have to try to start in the right way."
Meanwhile, Conte revealed he has not ruled out the possibility of having Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi play together this season.
The Spaniard joined Chelsea for £65million from Real Madrid this summer, but it's last season's big-money buy Batshuayi who's really impressed in pre-season.
Conte went on to say that the plan is for Morata to take on the No9 role - playing him centrally - after playing on the wing at times in pre-season.
The Premier League-winning boss also revealed that Kenedy - who hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in pre-season - should get plenty of first-team action.
However, he didn't say whether that would be at Chelsea or out on loan, only saying it's important he gets regularly game-time on the pitch.