DYCHE: COSTA IS BLUES’ STREET-FIGHTING MAN

SEAN DYCHE says Antonio Conte’s King’s Road aristocrats can still change into their working overalls when the going gets tough.

When it comes to grafting, the Burnley boss, whose unheralded mill town club is built on a strong work ethic and drive, maintains that Chelsea – despite their riches – are no prima donnas. And, in Diego Costa, they have a striker whose street-fighting attributes are a major reason why the leaders are champions-elect.

Dyche (left) said: “Am I right in thinking they have mainly used the same 13 players this season?

“Maybe that adds to the galvanising feeling. The Italian way is very structured, very organised. They have shown signs of having a good team belief and camaraderie.

“Their reality and expectation is to win a lot of games, if not to win all the time – to be right up there. You need an underlying culture, a team unity for that.”

It’s also all about players prepared to battle – no striker in the Premier League carries more scars than Costa. “He is a fine player. From the outside, I think he’s got a bit of everything. You have to play well as a unit as well as individually. That starts from the front because he can work in different ways. That’s what I like about him,” added Dyche.

“If he has to work off scraps, he will. If he has to work with cleverness, he will. If he has to be physical, he will.”