Chelsea boss Antonio Conte furious with Cesc Fabregas after telling squad at half-time during Burnley defeat to maintain discipline

ANTONIO CONTE is reportedly furious with Cesc Fabregas after the Spanish midfielder was sent off in the shock 3-2 defeat to Burnley.

With Chelsea 3-0 down at half-time, not helped by Gary Cahill’s straight red card for a reckless lunge on Steven Defour, Conte warned his players to keep their discipline.

Cesc Fabregas was sent off after lunging at Jack Cork to pick up another booking

The Spanish midfielder was distraught at getting booked and then sent off during the defeat to Burnley

But clearly this wasn’t taken on board by Fabregas.

He had already been booked for sarcastically clapping referee Craig Pawson, and he was soon joining Cahill for an early bath when he lunged at Jack Cork and collected a second yellow.

Now the Times reports that Conte is fuming with the midfielder for the “needless sending off”.

And Chelsea fans will be worried just how thin on the ground the central midfield area is at the moment.

Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are out on loan, and the London club have recently flogged Nemanja Matic to Manchester United.

Summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko is still not match-fit following his move from Monaco.

Speaking after the game Conte said: “We just lost our heads.

Cesc Fabregas’sending off means Chelsea are looking very light in the central midfield area

Antonio Conte is counting the cost of a costly Saturday with two players sent off in the defeat to Burnley

“We have to improve a lot on this because after the first red for Cahill we lost our composure and conceded three.

“From there, it is very difficult to change the result.

“This situation can happen and we must pay more attention next time.

“Instead, we conceded three goals and the second half was very difficult to change the final result, despite the great commitment, great desire and great will of my players.

“But today I saw two faces of the team — one positive in the second half and one negative in the first half.”

Antonio Conte is reportedly seething after Cesc Fabregas ignored his advice to keep his discipline

Cesc Fabregas has added to Chelsea’s already-thin midfield by getting an upcoming suspension

Sam Vokes’ double and a beauty from Stephen Ward stunned the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

Sub Alvaro Morata pulled a goal back before setting up David Luiz to make it 3-2 late on, but Sean Dyche’s men clung on for a famous win.

Gary Cahill was sent off with less than 15 minutes into the Premier League opener

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