COSTA TOLD HE MUST KISS AND MAKE UP
Abramovich wants end to spat with Conte
Antonio Conte expects Diego Costa to be back at work this week after Roman Abramovich made it clear he wants the two to kiss and make up, and he will not allow the striker to leave.
Costa and Conte fell out when the Chelsea manager sided with a member of his medical staff over a back complaint from the striker.
Costa’s representatives have been trying to drum up interest in a move to China but that is unlikely with no formal offer on the table and Chinese authorities closing the door on foreign signings.
Clubs were allowed three foreign players and one non-Chinese Asian but the quota is changing to just three foreigners in a bid to stem the flow of expensive imports.
Costa, whose Chelsea contract expires in 2020, missed the 3-0 win at Leicester after training alone for most of last week.
Conte played down the row and expects Costa to be back for the Premier League game against Hull on Sunday.
He also dismissed the threat of China, saying: ‘i think we’re a great club and it’s a great honour to play for Chelsea and for this reason i don’t see a threat from China for my players.
‘the money is not everything. When you play for a great team like Chelsea, you must be pleased with your situation.
‘the Premier League is really competitive. i think that the Premier League can attract every player because this league is the best in the world for a lot of positive things.
‘For this reason, i repeat: these offers from China are not a threat for our league. Money is not everything in football. i don’t worry about agents destabilising my players.’
Costa stayed away from the King Power Stadium as Chelsea eased to victory and thibaut Courtois said the display showed that the Premier League leaders can continue to score and win without their 14-goal star striker.
eden Hazard started up front in place of Costa, supported by Willian and Pedro, and Chelsea outclassed Leicester with their movement. Marcos Alonso scored twice before Pedro added a third.
Courtois, who was rarely troubled, said: ‘Diego is important for us but if he’s not there for one game we know we can handle it as well.
‘it’s obviously a different way of playing against Robert Huth and Wes Morgan because they are tall and there is no point in giving long balls to eden or Pedro, but we did well and the early goal helped us to control the game and kill them in the other moments.’
Courtois said the emphatic result — after defeat at tottenham in their last Premier League game earlier this month ended a 13-game winning streak — was a message to chasing rivals, who he believes are under more pressure than Chelsea.
‘Yes, to see Chelsea win 3-0 and we didn’t stop. the loss didn’t affect us and we can play without Diego if need be,’ he said. ‘i think everybody hoped for us to drop points and we didn’t so that was very good.
‘obviously if you are in front you have the pressure of wanting to keep that gap. But for us we are there, we are clear at the top and the pressure is more on the other teams than on us.
‘You need to keep winning your games but when you’re in a good moment like we are now, then things go well.
‘if you are like we were last year, when we are having a rough time, it is harder to get those wins and you always feel like you have a bit of bad luck.
‘this year everything is in our favour so we try to keep the momentum and just win our games. the most important thing is we can go to Anfield in two weeks’ time with the biggest gap possible.
‘Hopefully we can win another 13 in a row but we will see. We have to go game by game.’