Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has heaped praise on Diego Costa, saying the striker was an example to all after he learned to control his aggression on the pitch and translate his combative nature into tireless performances for the London club. The Brazil-born Spain striker Costa has done much to please Conte this season and tops the Premier League scoring charts with nine goals from 11 games. It was only a month ago, however, that he clashed publicly with the Italian during last month's win over Leicester City but relations between Costa and his coach have clearly improved. "He's an example for all," Conte told British media. "If he continues to score, I'll be very happy. But I'll be happier to see this commitment, this work rate during training and in games. "It's fantastic, I think, that Diego is improving a lot in a lot of aspects. For me, now, Diego is one of the best strikers in the world. "He must continue that, working in this way, with his commitment and work rate."
Chelsea, who next play Middlesbrough on Sunday, have risen to second in the league on the back of a five match winning-streak in which they have scored 16 goals and conceding none.Antonio Conte was named Premier League manager of the month on Friday after leading the club to four consecutive wins in October, while winger Eden Hazard picked up the player's prize for the first time. Conte saw his side pick up just one point in September, but after a tactical switch to the former Italy manager's preferred 3-4-3 formation, the club scored 11 goals and kept four clean sheets in October. "It's a great honour and I will share this with my players and the club," Conte told the Premier League's website (www.premierleague.com). "It is the first time I work in another country with a different culture, and when you want to bring your own philosophy it is not easy, but now I am glad for this choice."
Hazard, who scored three goals and claimed an assist in October, has been key to Chelsea's revival this season and said adopting a more single-minded approach in front of goal had helped him rediscover his best form. "People said I didn't shoot enough," he said. "Now I try to shoot and score every game when I'm on the pitch. Before I was thinking about the last pass to make an assist, now I can do it myself." Chelsea's upturn in form has helped them climb to second in the table, a point behind leaders Liverpool after 11 games. They travel to face 15th-placed Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday.
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