Thibaut Courtois: Why Chelsea star Diego Costa is making life difficult for Antonio Conte

DIEGO COSTA is making it very hard for Antonio Conte to give his other strikers any playing time.

That’s according to Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who believes his former Atletico Madrid team-mate is at the top of his game at the moment.

Costa has started the season in stunning form, scoring six goals in seven Premier League matches.

“He’s at his best, he’s playing how he did at Atletico and during his first season here,” he told the club’s website.

“Last year was difficult for everybody but after January he started scoring a lot of goals and he’s taken the form he produced at the end of last season into this one.

“He’s playing very well. It’s great to have a striker who scores so many goals and who can do it easily.

“It makes it difficult for the players behind him such as Michy to get into the team but Diego does everything well.

“We’re happy he’s in this form but it’s down to the whole team to perform well and contribute with goals.”

Courtois has also opened up on Costa’s mentality when he takes to the field as well as his close friendship with the 28-year-old.

“He’s a great guy and a good friend,” he added. “He’s always involved in the jokes but he wants to work hard and he wants to win.

“On the pitch he goes into a mode where he will give everything to win, he goes for every ball.

“On occasions he can sometimes clash with defenders but that’s simply because he gives everything and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

“Sometimes it can help the team because when you see a guy performing like that you want to follow, it gets the adrenaline inside your body going and you need that to win games.

“You need players who desperately want to win and who will lead the other players, so we’re very happy with him.”