One consolation is that if and when Costa suffers an nearly inevitable ban – there were two prolonged ones last season – Chelsea have in Batshuayi a £33m striker who could prove worth something close to the “crazy” prices Conte has complained about.
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Costa netted his second goal of the Premier League season Saturday as Chelsea came from a goal down to beat Watford 2-1, the Spain worldwide slotting home the decisive tally with three minutes to play.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits he does not understand the criticism Costa has received but has called on him to focus on his game.
Not all onlookers were so forgiving, though, with some pundits and voices within football critical of the 27-year-old’s display.
“Diego must be focused on the match”.
“Diego must be focused on the game and not take notice of other players, or managers or the press”, Conte said.
“So I want him to put himself in the game, not to think of other situations”.
But Conte has spoken to the player about blocking out all of the noise that surrounds him and to remain focused on helping Chelsea deliver on the pitch as he followed up Michy Batshuayi’s first goal for the club to strike the victor against the Hornets. Then at the end of the game when you play with 4-2-4 to shout for them to stay very wide.
‘Because it’s not good for him, for me, for Chelsea or the fans. I think for the English league, this is no good. I look at the ball but I look at the right position of the defender or the goalkeeper because sometimes it is very hard for the player to look in that moment and I prefer to suggest.
And Conte hopes Chelsea’s winning start to the new season can boost confidence throughout his squad as the Blues look to put their awful 2015-16 campaign behind them.
“It was important in these two games to win because you can continue to work as confidence rises”, Conte said.
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Costa has scored late winners in each of Chelsea’s opening two league games. “I try in every moment to suggest the right pass or the right position”.
