Chelsea missing important players for Boxing Day game
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has admitted that suspensions for Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante will provide a big test to his team’s winning form when they play Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
The Blues are looking for their 12th straight win at home to the Cherries, but 5th bookings for Costa and Kante in their 1-0 win vs Crystal Palace means they will be missing for this match.
Costa has scored three winners in Chelsea’s past six games, and Conte said: “For sure they are two important players for us, that’s clear.
“But we are working, we are working very well this week to try and find the solution to play good football, to continue to win, to take the three points.
“We all know against Bournemouth it will not be easy, they are a good team with a good organisation, but we are working very well and we want to continue.
“I have four days to evaluate the situation and find the best solution. This is a good test for us because we play this game without two very important players for our team.”
Michy Batshuayi would be a like-for-like replacement for Costa, but Conte said: “We must be patient with him. The next step for him is to play more this season.”
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
