Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has spoke about the latest transfer rumours and the Blues players’ fitness ahead of Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Middlesbrough.
The Brazilian midfielder has been linked with a £20m move to Serie A side Inter Milan recently, with Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu lined up as one of the potential replacements.
However, Conte has ruled out the possibility of Oscar leaving any time soon, and says his place is at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s official website reports.
Oscar’s future is with Chelsea, full stop. For me he’s an important player in our squad.
He’s in good form but I have to choose the starting eleven every week. He’s a great player and he’s staying with Chelsea, it’s important to give this message. I consider him an important player.
Diego Costa withdrew from Spain’s squad at the start of last international break with a slight groin problem, but Conte states that all players are fit and ready to play this weekend.
The news is that I have all of the players available. They are in good form. Costa had a bit of an injury after the Everton game, he started to train with us on Wednesday and his physical condition is good.
We still have tomorrow to look at the situation tactically but at the moment he can play. Eden also recovered very well.
Antonio Conte was today handed the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award after turning Chelsea’s course around winning all four games of October without conceding a single goal, guiding the Blues to a top two position in the league table.
However, the Italian says the prize was meant for the whole team, and that the staff and players all made it happen together.
For me it’s a great pleasure, a great hour after three months to receive the award, its fantastic.
It’s important to share it with my players and also with the staff and the club. This award is for the work of all the team.
