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Antonio Conte: Chelsea star Diego Costa is one of the best players in the world
ANTONIO CONTE described Diego Costa as ‘one of the best strikers in the world’ after the Spaniard’s match-winning strike at Middlesbrough fired Chelsea to the top of the Premier League.
Antonio Conte praises Chelsea following 1-0 win
Costa claimed 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.
Significantly, he has not been booked since the middle of September and, whereas post-match 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.
Diego Costa has been named among the world's elite after Chelsea sunk Middlesbrough
Diego Costa wheels away after scoring for Chelsea at Middlesbrough
“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 now as a striker, he is one of the best in the world.
“He has to continue this way and he is showing his patience in the right way and is focused on helping the team, with and without the ball.”
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.
Diego Costa has fired Chelsea to the Premier League summit
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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 by Liverpool and Arsenal. After this, Chelsea were not a favourite or a team who could fight for the title until the end. Now it is difficult to change that opinion completely.
“We are working well but if you ask what is our target, I want to wait until the end of the first part of the Championship. 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. I’m seeing with my own eyes that we have special players.”
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