Chelsea news LIVE updates: Costa to confront Conte in tunnel tonight, Cavani January move
CHELSEA return to Champions League action this evening against Atletico Madrid and Express Sport brings you all the build-up and latest news from Stamford Bridge.
Conte shows Chelsea how it's done with fancy footwork in training
CHELSEA NEWS LIVE UPDATES: All the latest from Stamford Bridge
Wednesday September 27
Fabregas compares team-mates
16.35: Lionel Messi, Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata.
Those are just three of the names on a star-studded list of strikers Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas has had the pleasure of playing with.
But which one is the best?
“Diego is the forward who has been best at reading and understanding my way of playing football,” Fabregas told Spanish newspaper AS.
“When I use the word forward, I'm not talking about the likes of Messi as a forward.
“With Leo we had a wonderful connection, but if we are to consider a classic No. 9 then there's is no doubt that playing with Diego was sheer enjoyment.
“He was wonderful at finding space and fought for every ball as if it were the last.
“Alvaro is more of a ’in the box’ striker and has a great goal scoring instinct and attacks the ball so well. It’s a joy to play with him.”
Costa treatment 'incredible'
15.35: Antonio Conte’s treatment of Diego Costa at Chelsea was ‘incredible’, according to pundit Phil Thompson.
“Every manager deserves the right to pick your own team, your own squad,” Thompson said on Sky Sports.
“We’re not privy to what goes on in the dressing room, behind the scenes.
“For a manager to do what Conte did I thought quite incredible. While he’s your player you should never write him off.”
Morata to eclipse Costa
14.50: Alvaro Morata has been backed to eclipse Diego Costa’s goal tally during his first season with Chelsea by bookmakers BetStars.
“Chelsea’s new leading man Alvaro Morata is priced at 5/6 to score more than 22.5 goals for Chelsea in all competitions this season and beat the recently-departed Diego Costa’s 2016/17 goal tally,” BetStars director Ian Marmion said.
“Costa, who officially joined Atlético Madrid this week, struck 22 goals for The Blues last season.
“Former Real Madrid man Morata has made a blistering start to life under Antonio Conte, netting six goals in his first six games including a hat-trick against Stoke at the weekend.”
Moscow boss reveals Conte chat
11:20: Spartak Moscow boss Massimo Carrera has revealed how some words of advice from Chelsea manager Antonio Conte helped his side earn a point against Liverpool.
Prior to the match, Carrera spoke to Conte about Liverpool and Klopp’s tactics to get one step ahead of his opponent.
Carrera worked as Conte’s assistant during his time at Juventus and Italy and the pair remained close friends.
And after the match, Carrera admitted Conte’s advice was exactly what he needed.
“During the conversation we talked about Liverpool for just a couple of minutes,” he said.
“We more discussed the situation in our teams, personal affairs, vacation, but what he said about the British, I needed.”
Costa v Conte tonight
10:08: Diego Costa is poised to come face to face with Antonio Conte tonight for the first time since the Italian told him he was not wanted at Chelsea.
Costa wants to meet with Antonio Conte for the first time since the text message that ended his Chelsea career by saying his goodbyes in the tunnel of the Wanda Metropolitano stadium ahead of tonight’s (7.45pm) Champions League clash between his former club and Atletico Madrid.
The controversial striker formally completed his return to Atletico last night – 24 hours before Chelsea take on the Spanish club in their Group C Champions League clash.
Chelsea expect Costa, who was at Atletico’s game with Sevilla at the stadium on Saturday, to be in the tunnel area tonight before the game to say goodbye to his old team-mates and club staff.
Conte had insisted he would shake the hand of Costa if he met the forward tonight at the game – and last night maintained he had no problem with the player.
Torres impressed by Morata
08:00: Fernando Torres has been impressed by Alvaro Morata’s start to life at Chelsea and has revealed he spoke with him prior to the former Real Madrid star’s switch.
“I spoke with him (Morata) before he joined Chelsea and told him I would be always on the phone if he needed any advice or if I could help him,” said Torres.
“Looking at the start he has made it doesn’t look like he needs any advice at all – already he is playing well and scoring goals.
“Chelsea have one of the best strikers in Europe – and I am sure he is going to win trophies with them.”
Musonda contract talks
06:45: Charlie Musonda is reportedly set to be offered a new contract at Chelsea to fend off interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.
Musonda impressed on his first start for Chelsea last week against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, marking his full debut with a goal.
And his performances are said to have attracted the interest of some of Chelsea’s biggest Premier League rivals.
His current contract runs out in 2019 but the London Evening Standard claim Chelsea are keen to secure his long-term future.
Cavani January move
05:00: Chelsea are favourites odds-on favourites to sign Edinson Cavan if he decides to quit Paris Saint-Germain in the New Year.
The Uruguay international was involved in a very public bust-up with Neymar over penalty duties during this month’s 2-0 win over Lyon.
It has since been claimed Cavani snubbed an offer of £880,000 to allow his South American compatriot to take penalties for the Ligue 1 giants.
And the news led to bookies shortening the odds on Cavani leaving the Parc des Princes in the New Year.
Paddy Power have made Chelsea 11-2 favourites with Real Madrid (15-2) also in the running for the 30-year-old.
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Chelsea are odds-on favourites sign Edinson Cavani in January
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Charlie Nicholas doesn't believe Eden Hazard should start
Hazard claim
04:00: Antonio Conte is unlikely to start Eden Hazard for Chelsea against Atletico Madrid, according to Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.
Chelsea go into the game in a rich vein of form and warmed up for their second Champions League group game on Wednesday (7.45pm) with a 4-0 win away to Stoke on Saturday in the Premier League with Hazard coming on as a second half substitute and is in contention for a starting spot against Atletico.
But Nicholas thinks Conte will omit Hazard from the starting XI especially with a league game against Manchester City on Saturday (5.30pm).
“Would you play Eden Hazard? He doesn't look sharp yet and while his touch is there I don't see that drive to produce those slalom runs which make him really dangerous,” Nicholas told Sky Sports.
“I think Antonio Conte might not put him in because they've got Manchester City coming next and I think they'll be quite happy just to not lose this, especially after they struggled against Arsenal.”
Lampard advice
03:30: Chelsea have to remember they don’t need to beat Atletico Madrid, according to club legend Frank Lampard.
The Blues made light work of Qarabag in their Champions League opener two weeks ago but face a much tougher test this evening against Diego Simeone’s side.
But Lampard believes the game at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium is not a must-win for Antonio Conte.
“Chelsea should remember they don’t have to win the game,” Lampard told the London Evening Standard.
“If they come away with a draw they will be happy and it will set them up for the Manchester City match.”