Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois admits losing striker Diego Costa to suspension is “a big blow”.
Costa picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, having walked a disciplinary tightrope since receiving his fourth yellow card against Arsenal back in September.
Both he and midfielder N’Golo Kante will miss Boxing Day’s game with Bournemouth, as the Blues hunt a club-record 12th league win in a row.
Speaking to Chelsea’s website about former Atletico Madrid team-mate Costa’s ban, Courtois said: “It’s a big blow because he’s a top striker. He scored his 13th goal of the season and he’s in top form.
“He’s been one booking away for many games now, so if he’d had a bit more luck he would have stayed like that until the New Year [after which previous bookings are not carried forward].
“But hopefully Michy [Batshuayi], or whoever the manager plays there, will do well.”
Chelsea had the luxury of naming Batshuayi, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Branislav Ivanovic and the fit-again Kurt Zouma on the bench against Palace.
And Courtois believes this strength in depth will prove crucial if they are to win back their Premier League crown.
“For the manager, it’s not easy to choose players,” Courtois said.
“With Cesc, Michy, Pedro, Ivanovic and Zouma we had a good bench and to be champions you need not only 11 players, but 18 or 22, the whole squad.
“We have a good team and we try to prove that every week.”