Priceless!
> Conte lavishes praise on ruthless Costa <
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ANTONIO CONTE hailed a newly-focused Diego Costa as “one of the best strikers in the world” after the Spaniard’s matchwinning strike at Middlesbrough fired Chelsea to the top of the Premier League table. Costa scored the only goal of the game at the Riverside, pouncing after a first-half corner rebounded inside the six-yard box, and now tops the Premier League goalscoring charts with 10 goals from 12 games. Perhaps just as significantly, he has not been booked since the middle of September, and whereas postmatch discussions would once focus on a perceived lack of discipline and a penchant for arguing with officials, it is now Costa’s football that is doing the talking. “Diego is always important, not only for today,” said Conte. “He is our point of reference in attacking. He is impressive in the way he is finding his goals, and it is important to continue this way because we need his goals. “Is he focused just on his football? It is important to have this question. In the past, people have been asking me about his behaviour and his reactions, but
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(Wagner 45+1, Zuber 49) (Kostic 28, Muller 61), (Grillitsch 38) (Meier 52, Barkok 90).
L22 20 18 18 18 16 16 16 15 13 10 7 6 5 now as a striker, I think he is one of the best in the world.”
With Liverpool having failed to beat Southampton on Saturday, Chelsea’s victory took them to the top of the table for the first time under Conte’s management.
Having won their last six games without conceding a goal, they are one point clear of both Liverpool and Manchester City, although Conte feels it is far too early to be talking about their title-winning credentials.
“I think that now it is difficult to reply to this,” he said. “Only a month and a half ago, you saw Chelsea conceded two defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal.
“After this, Chelsea were not a favourite or a team who could fight for the title until the end.
“It’s hard to say if we’re the best side in the country right now, but I’m pleased with the players because they know our fans demand that we must fight until the end.”
Things are about to get more difficult for the league leaders, with next weekend’s home game with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur preceding a trip to Manchester City.
For all their improved form, Aitor Karanka’s side are just one point clear of the relegation zone.
“Playing against a team like Chelsea, we knew it would be tough,” said the Boro head coach.
“One mistake punished us, but we have shown we can compete against the best teams in the league. You can’t be pleased to lose one game, but I am pleased with the attitude of the players.” – AFP
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