De Bruyne struck from the penalty spot as the Azzurri won 3-1 in Florence on Saturday.
Conte said afterwards, "We've tried to find a solution; a good coach has to make the players coexist. Last year, the midfielders were crucial to the Scudetto.
:Kevin's arrival could have meant one of the three was left out, but I think the role we're carving out for him is perfect for him. We're trying to give our opponents fewer reference points; last year, too, we were very high-pressing: you have to be prepared for these types of situations, which also expose you to risks, so I'm hammering them tactically.
"Kevin is a bit of a genius, we're trying to carve out a new role for him that's congenial to what he can give us right now."
Rasmus Hojlund struck on debut and asked for two words about the Manchester United loanee, Conte added: "Young and promising."