Conte delighted to have star back
BELGIAN PLAYMAKER TO TORMENT STOKE CITY Boss breathes sigh of relief as Costa saga comes to an end.
Antonio Conte was left frustrated by Chelsea’s failure to beat Arsenal last weekend, but the Blues boss has been given a lift ahead of today’s trip to Stoke City by Eden Hazard’s return to prominence and the end of the Diego Costa saga.
Conte’s stand-off with Costa had proved an unwelcome distraction after the Chelsea forward was told by the Italian he was no longer part of his plans.
Costa has stayed away from the club, spending much of his time in Brazil, while securing a return to his former club Atletico Madrid.
More importantly from Conte’s point of view, Costa will switch to Madrid and train with his new club, drawing a line under the issue the manager has been repeatedly forced to deal with.
The focus will now be on players still at the club and Hazard made his first start of the season in the 5-1 League Cup defeat of Nottingham Forest this week.
Hazard had made just three appearances off the bench for the Blues this season after breaking his ankle at the end of last term.
But his performance against Forest confirmed he is fully fit and his presence at the bet365 Stadium for a testing meeting with Stoke will be invaluable.
Conte is well aware of the Potters’ strengths and insists there is no way he will take the game lightly as Chelsea attempt to close the three-point gap to leaders Manchester City.
“This season Stoke have won at home against Arsenal and drawn against Manchester United. We must be ready,” Conte said.
Chelsea will be without centreback David Luiz who is suspended after being sent off against Arsenal.
Pedro will play despite limping out of the Arsenal clash with an ankle injury.
For Stoke boss Mark Hughes, the concerns are very real ahead of today’s game.
He must hope captain Ryan Shawcross recovers in time to return to central defence in place of Chelsea loanee Kurt Zouma, who is ineligible to play against his parent club. – AFP