Conte in JT snub
Conte backs his Costa blanker
JOHN TERRY’S dreams of a Wembley swansong today have been dashed, despite Gary Cahill missing out through illness.
The former England skipper has also told friends he favours a move to Bournemouth next season when he finally brings the curtain down on his Chelsea career.
Terry (right) was hoping to start against Tottenham in today’s FA Cup semi-final as Cahill is out with gastroenteritis.
But Nathan Ake has got the nod, despite the 22-year-old starting just twice since being recalled from his loan at Bournemouth.
It’s a big gamble by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and a major snub to Terry, who has won the FA Cup five times with the club.
Conte said: “For Cahill, it’s impossible. But Ake deserves to have this chance to play
ANTONIO CONTE has warned Tottenham that Diego Costa is saving all his goals for the business end of the season.
Costa, who is the subject of renewed interest from Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian, has only scored three times since January after starting the season like an express train.
But Conte reckons the Spain star is fired up for today’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against his side’s main title rivals.
The Blues boss said: “I think he is keeping the goals for the finale of the season! It is the right moment to score.”
Costa has not been the same since news of interest from China first surfaced and Tianjin are now ready to offer him up to £650,000 a week to quit Stamford Bridge.
The striker scored 10 times in his first 13 games of the season but has only hit the target three times in his last 13 and has come in for stick from some fans at Stamford Bridge.
Conte said: “You’re restarting this about Diego to China. The main thing for us is to be focused. Has he lost his focus? No.”
Costa will lead the line at Wembley with Chelsea looking to beat their London rivals, who are also breathing down their necks in the league after closing to within four points of them. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino insisted this week that his side are the underdogs in the cup game – but Conte hit back yesterday, saying that’s just a bad excuse.
He said: “I think that Tottenham must be considered at the top, because Tottenham now is a really great power in English football.
“They have been working three years with Pochettino. I think it’s the right moment not to consider them underdogs and have this excuse.
“They are a great team and for the second year are fighting for the title.
Bounce
“Last year they missed this, this year they are trying again. I think they will fight every year for the title.
“They are full of strong players and they are building something important. There is a moment where you have to finish to be considered. I think this is the right moment.”
Conte also warned Spurs he is not ready to give up his dream of a league and cup Double without a fight, despite skipper Gary Cahill set to miss today’s game with a tummy bug.
The Italian, whose side hope to bounce back after losing at Manchester United, said: “We have a semi-final and then six games to go to try to write history. I think we must be focused about this and we must enjoy this moment and stay together and fight together.
“Then, if someone is better than us at the end of the season, we must clap them.
“The most important thing for us is to be focused. To continue to do what we are doing until now. To be focused on the present, to keep the concentration.
“We have to finish a good season for us and then we want to do something extraordinary for me, for the players, for the club.”