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#2 The sweeper role
The returning David Luiz won all the plaudits for an excellent 2016-17 in a sweeper role for Chelsea, and more of the same was expected of him the following season.
However, after a bust-up with Conte following Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to AS Roma in the Champions League group stage, Luiz was effectively phased out of the team for good.
While Andreas Christensen did an excellent job for the most part and deservedly received praises from critics, he has made a fair share of mistakes too.
A series of high-profile errors and poor defensive displays from the Danish international against Barcelona, Manchester City and Manchester United in successive games deflated the morale of the team and effectively changed the course of the season.
Playing Gary Cahill against Bournemouth and a rusty Luiz against Watford led to disasters, and without stability in this position, Conte's 3-4-3 looked as shaky as it could ever be. By this time, Chelsea had relinquished their position in the top 4, something they never truly looked like recovering after their home defeat to Tottenham.
