Antonio Conte: This is what Michy Batshuayi has to do at Chelsea

ANTONIO CONTE has told Michy Batshuayi to keep watching and learning from Diego Costa as he battles to make his Premier League breakthrough.

Posted Monday, December 26, 2016 by Dailystar.co.uk

Michy Batshuayi hasn't started a league game this season

Batshuayi has been forced to wait patiently since his £33m summer move from Marseille.

The 23-year-old striker has looked on from the sidelines as Costa has led Chelsea's surge to the top of the table with a stunning return of 13 goals in his 17 league appearances so far.

But a yellow card in his last appearance means Costa will sit out today's clash with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

And that could open the door for the Belgium to finally make his first Blues league start.

Boss Conte said: "I think every single player, every forward, has different characteristics, because the players are different.

"Michy is different to Diego. And because, he's a younger player, he can improve a lot.

"For sure, if you stay close to Diego, you can learn a lot to improve your experience and improve your skills.

"And to have the training sessions with great players improves you."

Conte could opt to go with Pedro or Eden Hazard down the middle instead though spelling more disappointment for Batshuayi.

But the coach insists he has had no problems with the player's attitude to finding himself on the sidelines despite his big price tag.

Conte said: "For sure, he wants to play and it's not easy when you have in front of you Costa, who is playing fantastic football and scoring a lot of goals.

"It's important for Michy to continue to work, to continue to improve. I'm sure his moment will arrive.

"It's not easy to arrive in this league and play in this league, above all if you are a young player arriving in a new country. For me, it's difficult. But for a young player also.

"To arrive and adapt to this league - such a tough league, very physical, very strong. But I think Michy is working very well.

"We must have patience with him, to work with him and try and help him improve. And then the next step is for him to play more this season. But I repeat: it's not easy to adapt to this league and arrive here and play.

"Michy, if I decide to put him in the starting XI, is ready to play. It's not important to talk and put more pressure on him.

"He must do what he knows, what we are doing in the training sessions. Only this. If Michy is here, it's because he deserves to stay here."