Diego Costa may or may not be fit for Chelsea’s weekend clash with Middlesbrough. What does this mean for Michy Batshuayi? The Blue Lions discuss.
The Blue Lions podcast broke their duck to discuss Diego Costa’s recent injury problems and the implications for Michy Batshuayi. Will the Belgian finally get his opportunity against Middlesbrough on Sunday?
Even if Diego Costa is physically cleared to play, should Antonio Conte risk the Spanish international given his fragile body? Chelsea faces Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City after Middlesbrough. Not having Costa against the fellow title-contenders would be disastrous.
“Diego Costa is in every single sense a throwback striker in terms of his play and his mentality,” Barrett Rouen said. Costa’s injury history and tendency to not take good care of his physical condition must be balanced against Michy Batshuayi’s inexperience in the Premier League.
"I assumed [Michy Batshuayi] was quite a mobile striker, kind of the opposite of Costa and better at linking play up. From what we’ve seen of him, maybe Antonio Conte said ‘stay up front and don’t try to do too much…’ He has to adapt his game slightly to become more of a Costa-style player if he is to thrive in a 3-4-3. – Daniel Mcclue"
Even if Batshuayi replaces Costa in the starting XI against Middlesbrough, he still has a long struggle to become a regular. Chelsea may opt to buy another striker in January rather than make Batshuayi Costa’s stand-by replacement in the 3-4-3 or partner in a 3-5-2.
This would be a short-sighted and foolish move, Rouen says. Unfortunately, that all but convinces us that Michael Emenalo will do exactly that.
Give the podcast a listen and let us know what you think. Should Conte start Michy Batshuayi out of an abundance of caution, or must it always be Diego? And what would Batshuayi have to do to earn a regular place in the lineup? Chime in below!