Conte on Costa contract, Ake, Begovic, Eduardo and sleepness nights
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was asked about a number of issues at his press conference ahead of Sunday’s home game with Hull City. Here is some of what the Italian had to say.
On Diego Costa
“He had a training session on Tuesday with the rest of the team and he trained very well. He hasn’t [any] pain in his back – for this reason he’s available.
“On Sunday and Monday, he trained with a fitness coach because it is important to prepare his body to have a good session on Tuesday.”
On Costa’s future
“I think the player wants to stay at Chelsea. He’s very happy to play with us – this idea [a move to China] is far from his mind.
“He’s happy to stay here, to play with us. This is the most important thing for us. I don’t see any problem.”
On reports of a bust-up with Costa
“After the game against Leicester, I told you the truth [that Costa was injured].
“I heard a lot of speculation about Diego, but now the most important thing is that he trained with us this week, he hasn’t any pain in his back, and is available to come back in our squad against Hull City.
“Diego is an important player for us. When he stays in a good form, he’s always played. Will he start against Hull? We’ll see on Sunday. I do not want to give an advantage to our opponent.”
On whether Costa should get a new contract
“I think now it’s better to be concentrated on the present, not the future. It’s important to have these [next] four months in a very strong way, and then we’ll see.
“It’s important now to be focused on the present and not to see too far, in my opinion.
“Diego is a good player, he is a good person and now he’s only focused on Chelsea and to play with us and to continue to help us.
“He missed only one game but now he’s ready to come back with us. I’m sure about his commitment, his will to fight with this team to the end and to try to win the title.”
On an offer from Bournemouth for Asmir Begovic
“Asmir is an important player for me, on and off the pitch. He knows this.
“There is this offer – me and the club, we are evaluating this offer. But it’s important to find the right solution for Asmir, for the club, for me.”
On Costa’s possible return to the team
“At the moment, for me to make a decision is not easy, because I have four or five players [who are] very strong in that position – I have Pedro, Willian, [Eden] Hazard, Costa and also Ruben [Loftus-Cheek].
“It’s not easy because they are in good form, and they give me different options. For sure, I sleep some hours less to make the best decision but it is my task to pick the best players game-by-game.
“I have to pick three players [up front] and if someone stays out it’s not for punishment, or for other stories. I like to make choices game-by-game, and also to consider the opponent.”
On Nathan Ake
“I evaluated his situation, I evaluated our situation and I think it’s a good reinforcement for us because Ake is a player that can play in different positions.
“I think in this last two years he has played and improved a lot, and now he’s ready to play with this team, to stay with us and to help us.
“This is the second week that he’s working with us – now he’s starting to go into our idea of football. I’m pleased to have him.”
On whether Eduardo could replace Asmir Begovic
“Eduardo is a great buy for us. He arrived as a third goalkeeper, that position is very clear in my mind.
“I’m very happy for him because he is working very well, and he is helping me, helping Thibaut [Courtois] and Asmir a lot and also he is helping [goalkeeper coaches] Gianluca Spinelli and Hilario in their work. For me, he is doing very well.”
On Fifa technical director’s Marco Van Basten’s proposed rule changes
“I don’t like this because I think that if you start to change a lot of rules, it’s not good. With these [current] rules, football is very attractive. I don’t like wanting to try to take examples of the other sports. Football is football, other sports are other sports.”
On Hull
“You have to face this game with great concentration and focus on our target because if you think that these games are easy, you can make a great mistake and you can pay for this mistake at the end of the season.
“For me, Hull City are a good team – in the last game they won against Bournemouth. They changed the coach and usually when you change the coach you have a great reaction from the players – we must pay great attention.”
