Chelsea proved they can win without Diego Costa, says Courtois

The Blues goalkeeper thinks that his side’s striker is important, but that if he is missing for a game then his side will cope as they did on Saturday Thibaut Courtois was impressed with how Chelsea handled the absence of Diego Costa as they claimed three more points away to Leicester City to add to their Premier League title challenge. Costa was ruled out of his side’s 3-0 win with a back injury – but Goal understands that the 28-year-old had a falling out with manager Antonio Conte over contract negotiations – after the Blues striker was offered a 30 million-per-year deal from a Chinese football club.

Conte vs Costa: Chelsea’s boss wins battle on and off the pitch

The Blues striker was left out of his side’s win in Leicester City but his manager’s decision was vindicated at the King Power Stadium Antonio Conte avoided a heap of pressure after Chelsea managed to win away to Leicester City without his talismanic striker, Diego Costa, after the pair fell out over a big-money offer from China. Marcos Alonso stepped up to provide the two killer blows against the Foxes, opening the scoring after Eden Hazard found him with a clever pass in the sixth minute and he soon doubled the lead with a shot from the edge of the box which deflected off Wes Morgan and squirmed past Kasper Schmeichel.