Chelsea cruised into a terrific 1-0 victory past Crystal Palace today, extending their winning streak to eleven victories on the run and boosting their lead on top of the league to nine points clear from the second positioned Liverpool and Arsenal.
Diego Costa nodded in his 50th club goal from Cesar Azpilicueta’s neat cross, but prior to that he made a foolish mistake which costs him the upcoming match against Bournemouth as he collected his fifth booking of the campaign.
The Spaniard had been on the verge of an automatic one-game suspension for some time, as he was able to go ten games without a booking. However, the great card-less spell came to an end today.
Same goes for Chelsea’s midfield dynamo N’Golo Kanté, who will miss the Boxing Day fixture at Stamford Bridge for the very same reason.
Antonio Conte commented Costa’s and Kante’s absence ahead of the Bournemouth game as a chance for the rest of the team to show him what they got, Chelsea’s official website quotes.
I hoped Diego would arrive after the game against Stoke without a yellow card, but it didn’t happen. It’s a pity because he’s in a good moment of form. I think he didn’t deserve the yellow card, I must be honest.
Against Bournemouth we will have eight days to find a different solution. It’s an opportunity for me to see another idea, but yes, we are disappointed to lose him.
It’s expected that Kante will be replaced by Cesc Fabregas, and Michy Batshuayi to be handed his first league start as a back-up for Diego Costa.
Conte shows his belief in the Belgium international, who hasn’t had it easy adapting to a whole new league.
It’s not easy to arrive and understand and adapt to his league. I can see another example, Zaza at West Ham. I know him very well, he played with me at the Euros, and he is a good player, but in England he is having a lot of difficulty.
This football is very tough, very physical. Michy has good quality, he’s very young, and it’s important for him to continue to work and improve, and I think this season he can have a good satisfaction.
