Antonio Conte warns Chelsea players against voicing their frustrations in public

The Chelsea manager refused to disclose, though, whether or not he had spoken to Eden Hazard about his public comments regarding last week's defeat by Manchester City

Antonio Conte admitted he had been punished as a player for voicing his frustrations (Getty)

Antonio Conte has warned Eden Hazard he is likely to be asked to fill the false nine role again this season despite the player’s frustrations during last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City.

Hazard voiced his discontent after last Sunday’s loss by insisting he had been unable to make his mark in the game and could have played for “three hours” without getting a touch. Conte refused to disclose whether or not he had spoken to the player about his comments this week.

However, he urged Hazard and the rest of his Chelsea team-mates not to voice their dissatisfaction in public, citing his own experience as player when he fell foul of Juventus manager Marcello Lippi as the moment he realised the importance of keeping his feelings to himself.

“I did this when I was a player,” he said. “We played a game, a massive game against Parma when they were first and we were second. We won 3-1. After the game, there was an international break. During the international break the journalists asked me if I was happy with the team and with this important win. My stupid answer was, 'We are winning, but I'm not happy because I'm not enjoying the role the coach decided to give me.'

“When I came back to Turin, it was a meeting with Lippi and all the players, all the players, and he killed me. He killed me in a bad way, not in a soft way. In front of the players. Killed me in a bad way, not in a soft or kind way. After the training, the club called me. They killed me another time, put me a big, big fine. And then, in the next game, I didn't play. I was on the bench against Piacenza.”

Insisting he was referring solely to his own experience, he said the moment shifted his attitude as a player. “After that, I improved a lot,” he added. “Not to be selfish. I started to think for the team. I became a captain of the team after that. When I was a player, until one point of my career, I was selfish. Because you think about yourself. If you play. If you don't play, you're unhappy. You don't think about the team. When you arrive at that point in your career, though, you start to have your mind more open.

“I'm talking about my experience. Not the others. This is the best way. I'm saying that I was selfish until one point in my career, and then I became a team player with my mind.”

Eden Hazard cut a frustrated figure as Chelsea's false nine at the Etihad (Getty)

Conte’s side face Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge today (SAT) ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League second leg in Barcelona and the Italian must decide whether to bring in Olivier Giroud or Alvaro Morata to lead the line or stick with Hazard.

“For sure, Giroud is ready,” he said. “He's a strong player and has a lot of physicality. I think that, in some games, it's right to start with him. In other games, it's right to start with Morata. In others, it's right to continue with Hazard as a No 9.

“If I think it's right for the team to play in this way, it's okay. Otherwise I can take another decision and play with a striker. Maybe. I can take different decisions. There are three players for two places. One has to go on the bench. Then I have to decide who has to go on the bench.”