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Antonio Conte could restore Diego Costa to Chelsea's starting XI despite uncertainty over his future
Antonio Conte is ready to “put my hands in the fire” and bring Diego Costa straight back into his Chelsea starting line-up, but has offered no guarantees over the striker’s long-term future at the club.
Costa has trained fully with the squad since Tuesday, having missed last week’s victory over Leicester City after becoming embroiled in a row with Conte and a fitness coach over his complaint that he was feeling pain in his back.
Chinese club Tijan Quanjian confirmed they made an offer for Costa, which is understood to have turned the 28-year-old’s head, but claimed Chelsea will not sell him until the end of the Premier League season.
Conte used an Italian phrase to insist he has no doubts over Costa’s fitness or focus ahead of Sunday’s game against Hull City and the Spain international could come straight back in at the expense of Willian.
If he does, it will be his 100th appearance for Chelsea. But asked whether Chelsea should offer Costa a new contract to try to secure his long-term future, Conte said: “No, I think now is better to be focused and concentrate on the present, not the future.
“Now' it's important he has these four months in a very strong way and then we'll see. It's important now to be focused on the present and not see too far (into the future), in my opinion.
“Diego is a good player, a good person, and now he's only focused on Chelsea and to play with us, and continue to help us.
“He missed only one game, the last game, and now he's ready to come back with us. For sure, I'm sure about his commitment, his behaviour, his will to fight with this team and to try, together, to fight until the end to try and win the title.”
Conte is expected to give the green light for Costa to go in the summer if Chelsea receive a good offer, with Alvaro Morata his preferred replacement. But the Italian is sure Costa will now give everything to help Chelsea maintain their advantage at the top of the Premier League table and win the title.
“Every time Diego played for Chelsea, he always put all himself into it for this shirt, for this club,” said Conte. “This is the most important thing. I know this and I'm pleased for this. For this reason, I'm sure on Sunday that, if Diego starts the game, he'll put all himself into it for this club, the shirt and the fans, and do everything he can to win the game.”
Asked if he is convinced that Costa’s focus is solely on Chelsea, Conte replied: “Yeah, yeah. I can put my hands in the fire. In Italy, if you put your hands in the fire, it means you are certain 100 per cent. You trust 100 per cent the situation.”
Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian all played well against Leicester and Conte is insistent that should Costa come straight back in it will not be because he is an automatic pick when available.
“I don't like this word, 'untouchable',” said Conte. “You prove you should play a game in training sessions and you have to prove you should start. I prefer all my players show me every single day that they deserve to play on Sunday. For me, that's important. From my career, I learnt this.”
On the prospect of Costa making his 100th appearance, Conte added: “That is a great achievement for him, his 100th appearance. That's fantastic to play for the same team (that many times). I hope to celebrate this 100th appearance with a win. I hope.”
Branded a rat and booed by a section of fans last season, Costa had rebuilt his reputation with the Stamford Bridge faithful before the bust-up and interest from China.
But Conte is adamant that Costa should not be jeered on Sunday, saying: “I don't think this situation can happen. It's not right, it's not right.
“Our fans are really important, always. Because our fans are great. They push a lot when we play at home. They push a lot when we play away. And, for us, for me, they are the 12th player on the pitch. “I hope to continue in this way, to push a lot our team, my players, in every moment of the game. They are a really important part for us to try and win and try and continue to fight for the title.”
Other than doubts resurfacing over Costa’s future, Chelsea have also had to contend with a bid in the region of £10million for goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Bournemouth.
The first offer was initially rejected, but Conte is likely to allow Begovic to leave in recognition of his faultless attitude as long as the price is right and Chelsea are already looking at potential replacements to act as back-up to Thibaut Courtois.
Although they have summer signing Eduardo at the club, Chelsea would ideally like to have another goalkeeper with Premier League experience to act us understudy to Courtois if Begovic leaves.
“First of all I want to say that Asmir is an important player for me, on and off the pitch. A really important player,” said Conte. “But it's important to find the right solution for Asmir, for the club, for me. It's important to find the right solution before he goes away.”