New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte spoke ahead of the Monday Premier League opener against West Ham, that he wants Costa to play inside the box and score 30 goals.
Conte was asked if he was targeting a 20 goal season for Costa. He answered with a smile on his face “Why 20 and not 30?”. It is clear that the Italian manager wants Costa to improve from last season, to score allot of goals, to do hard work for his team.
Costa arrived to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid 2014. The Spaniard enjoyed a successful debut season by winning the league and scoring 20 goals, but last season was not very successful as Chelsea finished 10th and Costa scored 12 goals, Costa surley looks to improve for the upcoming season.
Diego is a forward and he knows that, in my idea of football, the forward must be a point of reference for the team. I don’t like that a forward moves around the pitch. I like him to stay there [in the box] because you are a forward and your commitment is to score goals and to stay in the right position. You are a forward – not a midfielder, not a defender.
I don’t like to speak about single players but I will make an exception. Diego is a great player. I know that he is a fantastic finisher but I think he can still improve a lot. I hope for this. I try to improve all of my players. Their past is not important to me and now, I am seeing a good attitude from Diego – to work and to improve in different situations.
I am happy that Diego stays here to work with us. We know that we can improve through the work and the most important thing is that the players have put themselves into this idea. Diego can give a lot to this team and I am sure he will have a good season.
Contes style as a manager and back int the day as a player was full of passion, he thinks that passion is something which has carried him forward as a manger. He thinks that passion for the game is something in common with him and Costa.
Diego always shows a great passion and I am the same. He doesn’t want to lose. I like this passion and I want to put it in the team. It’s important to have passion for your work, for your football. It can help you to get over difficulties. I like this commitment – that the players work very strongly for the team.
I ask Diego for this and I demand this of him. I never ask [specific goal targets] of my strikers but I ask Diego and all the players to have a great attitude. Then, the goals arrive. I am sure of this. It’s important that the players play our football, not their own football.
5/1 Chelsea to beat West Ham tonight and with Hazard back in form, Kante in front of the defence, easy money! 💰💰💰 Bet now!
