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Chelsea star facing axe as Antonio Conte prepares to shake up his Chelsea squad!

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Blue star Branislav Ivanovic is facing the axe as Antonio Conte tries to solve his defensive problems.

Ivanovic is set to be left out at Hull on Saturday despite John Terry’s continued absence with an ankle injury. Conte has also devoted time in training this week to practising his preferred back-three defensive system.

The Chelsea boss is concerned about the balance in other areas if he commits to three at the back but he is determined to tighten a defence which has conceded nine goals in four games

Ivanovic has been rested in the past but has not been dropped on form since Andre Villas-Boas was in charge five years ago.

The 32-year-old Serb has been a firm favourite of owner Roman Abramovich since he was signed from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2008. It would be a bold call to leave Ivanovic out because he is vice-captain and one of the veterans of the team. But his form has been on the slide for more than a year and he performed poorly in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal last week.

Abramovich has been at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground with his entourage this week and held lengthy discussions with Conte and technical director Michael Emenalo in the canteen on three separate days.

Sources at the club maintain that the discussions were very relaxed, positive and wholly about football. Conte outlined to Abramovich his plans to sort out his side’s problems and the coach said on Friday: ‘I’m lucky because Mr Abramovich is very passionate about football. I like this.’

It is understood Abramovich is happy with Conte’s progress since joining in the summer

Despite Chelsea sitting eighth in the Premier League, eight points off the top, those close to the situation say the owner is comfortable with Conte’s progress and will back him in the January transfer window.

The former Italy boss admits he has a ‘big problem’ with his defence and the amount of goals they are conceding but has pleaded for patience.

‘It’s important to understand that we haven’t got a magic wand to change the situation in two, three, four months,’ said 47-year-old Conte. ‘We must change the situation and work hard together, and we are doing this. But it won’t be easy.’

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