Batshuayi is 'ready to replace Costa' says Matic

Last updated : 19 December 2016 By Paul Lagan

Michy Batshuayi has the unenviable task of replacing goal-scoring machine Diego Costa on Boxing day, as the Blues, who sit pretty at the top of the Premier League go in search of their 12th league win on the spin against Bournemouth without their talismanic hit-man who is suspended, writes Paul Lagan.

Costa picked up his fifth booking of the season in Saturday's 1-0 at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace and misses one match. He has scored 13 league goals this season.
Belgium Batshuayi, 23, has waited for his chance to impress the Chelsea faithful since his £34million summer move from French side Marseille.
He has had just four outings this term scoring three goals, a goal in the 2-1 league win at Watford and a brace against Bristol Rovers in the 3-2 League Cup match at the Bridge.
But Nemanja Matic believes that the striker has earned the right to replace Costa and more importantly he is ready to do so.
The Serbia midfielder, 28, said: "When you have Diego Costa in the team it is very hard to get a chance because he is playing so well and scoring goals. I'm sure that Michy is ready to take his opportunity because he is working hard every day. He is a good man. We won't have Diego against Bournemouth, but I hope Michy will be the man to decide the game. If he does that it will be good for us."
Head coach Antonio Conte is meticulous in his preparations for matches and Costa has been playing with a fifth booking hanging over his head for weeks before finally succumbing to a yellow card for a needless booking.
So had the Chelsea boss put on training sessions with just Batshuayi up front and Costa sitting out simulating his suspension? Matic was not in the mood to give away any trade secrets.
"I can't say what we are doing in training," he said. "This is a question for the coach."
But he did say: "Everyone is prepared to play. But it is up to the coach to decide who will play on the day of the game. Everyone works hard like they're going to play so this is normal in football."
So what will Michy bring to the pitch?
Matic said: "He is a great striker for sure that is why Chelsea bought him. I'm sure if he gets a chance in the next game, he will take it."
Costa scored the only goal of the game in South-east London that kept Chelsea No 1 at Christmas in the Premier League chart.
With Batshuayi watching Costa for the best part from the bench, has he learnt anything from watching the Brazil-born Spain striker? Matic believes he has.
"Of course," he said. "It was the same with me seven years ago. It was very good for me to see how (Frank) Lampard played, how (Michael) Ballack and Michael Essien played. So it is good for him and a good experience for him to see Diego's movement. He will have learned from watching and playing with Diego (in training). He is going to be better because of this."
Conte however is insisting that Batshuayi still needs to adapt to the pace and strength of the Premier League, so there is a possibility that the Italian boss might opt for a false number nine with Eden Hazard or Pedro getting the nod to replace Costa.
Conte comes across as a calm butt passionate man when talking about his side, but you can sense, just underneath the surface, he wants to jump up and down and shout out his delight at the pole position he has placed his charges.
So what impresses him most about the team he took over in the summer which was reeling from the shambles of last season which saw the Blues finish 10th in the league?
He said: "I think that now, I see a strong mentally in my players.
"To go to Selhurst Park and play against a physical Crystal Palace and have the right behaviour and find the way to win, to fight in the same way as Crystal Palace is not simple.
"We have a great team, great players, but you can see talented players who have great commitment. They are putting their talents into the team. That is fantastic for me, but also for the fans to see that commitment, the will to fight for every ball."
Of the 11 league wins on the spin, nine have seen clean sheets. Is Conte more pleased to see a goal-saving tackle than a goal?
"Yeah, nine clean sheets is fantastic as it's not easy." He said.
"It's difficult not to concede in this league - the opponent always has the possibility to score a goal, whether it's from a corner or throw-in, or free-kick.
"But on Saturday I think we should have scored more than the single goal. So we have a bit to improve on."
The last time the west Londoners lost in the league was in September to Arsenal, where they also lost the previous match to Liverpool at home.
So when did the doubts about how the season was progressing go away.
Conte reveals that he was considering changing the team's formation long before the two defeats but felt the players simply were not prepared for it.
"I think after the defeat against Liverpool and also Arsenal, I changed something, in me, in my players, in my club I think," he said.
"We understood the way to go, to have a different season compared to last season. It was different, for this reason we found the right solution to improve the quality of the work, in all aspects, tactical and physical. I'm pleased for this.
"After those two bad games, we changed a lot - me, I changed it.
"I like to win, but we deserved the two bad defeats, but I did not like this.
"We tried to find the right solution on the pitch and off it. To find then the right solution with the players. We explained to them we all deserved better than last season."
At what point did he decide to change formation - was it during 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal?
"In my mind before the game against Liverpool," he confessed.
"I understood that our formation was not good to face Liverpool on the tactical aspect - and we paid the price. So against Arsenal, then I decided to change. We are playing with three central defenders now. I don't think in the history of Chelsea we have done this.
"To change it totally is not easy. You must go slowly, slowly, and to put your ideas (across).
But in my mind, in the games before Liverpool, there was the will to change, but I waited for the right moment."
So why not change it after the Liverpool game which they lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge? Conte revealed a chink in his tactical armour by revealing he was hoping performances would improve rather than ensuring they would.
"No I didn't. We always hoped not to put a great change in the team. I had players that have only (ever) played with four at the back," he said.
Costa is not the only Chelsea casualty to face Bournemouth on Boxing Day - midfield destroyer N'Golo Kante is also suspended for getting his fifth yellow card against the Eagles.
Will they be spending Christmas Day with their family rather than with the squad as they won't be playing the following day?
Conte is having none of it.
"No, they won't," he said.
"On the 25th we stay together - it's a normal situation before a game. We will have dinner in the hotel at 9pm and then sleep, then we play the game and I hope we continue to win."

With Oscar leaving Chelsea in the January transfer window, has the fact the Blues are top of the league changed his mind about what he would like to do in January in terms of bringing players in?
Columbia striker James Rodriguez from Real Madrid is a reported £60million target to replace Brazilian Oscar who is expected to joint Chinese side Shanghai SIPG for £60million in the new year.
Conte reverted to the company line: "We must be very pleased for the achievements we have made now," he said.
"But also I'm happy to play with these players and squad. It's logical that I have to speak with my club, to try to arrive at a solution to be in a good position at the end of the season.
"I don't know what will happen in January, in this case it's important to talk with my club. We have a fantastic relationship. But I think I have my idea, and I prefer to tell the club."

Oscar won't play for Chelsea again as he prepares for life in China and his club and Brazil international team mate Willian has revealed the reason why Oscar is exiting SW6 - it's not a surprise. Willian, 28, said after the win on Saturday: "Oscar has already said goodbye, a good friend who goes away, but we wish the best for him and his family as well.
"We know that the career of a player is a short, it ends quickly, so when that opportunity comes (to give financial security), we have to think about our family."
)scar is expected to earn about £250,000 a week in China.
Oscar, 25, was signed by Chelsea from Brazil side Internacional in July 2012 for almost £20million. He played a total of 147 games for Chelsea, scoring 38 goals.

Chelsea skipper John Terry is mulling over the prospect of ending his Chelsea career with a move to China too. Terry, 36, signed as a trainee for the Blues in August 1997 - and is out of contract at the end of the season.
The club have confirmed that no talks about a extension of his playing contract has taken place and any, if they do occur, will take place closer to the end of the season. Terry is free to talk to other clubs in January.
If he decides to continue playing, Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, who are managed by ex-Blue Gustavo Poyet will be his destination. He would earn close to £175,000 a week in China, a fraction of the money he is currently on at Chelsea.