Chelsea has become the first club to collect a hat-trick of Premier League awards in the same month with Antonio Conte, Diego Costa and Pedro picking up the prizes for November.
Conte earned his second Barclays Manager of the Month title in a row after guiding the Blues to three wins out of three in November. His fusion of free-flowing football and defensive solidity continued to deliver as the Blues scored eight and conceded only once.
Conte earned his second Barclays Manager of the Month title in a row after guiding the Blues to three wins out of three in November. His fusion of free-flowing football and defensive solidity continued to deliver as the Blues scored eight and conceded only once.
Diego Costa was named the EA Sports Player of the Month for his role in continuing the winning run. After providing a goal and an assist in the side’s 5-0 victory over Everton, the division’s topscorer added a decisive strike against Middlesbrough and reached double digits for the season.
The Spain international then set up the winner in Chelsea’s comeback to win 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur, rounding off a fruitful month from both a team and individual perspective. His success ensured the honour stayed in Blues hands, Eden Hazard having clinched the October prize.
‘Things are going well at the moment. The team is doing well and this shows that things are working out for me,’ Diego Costa said.
‘The team performance has a bearing on this individual award. If we were bottom, I doubt I’d have won it. So, it’s down to my team-mates, thanks to the club and hopefully we can continue this winning run. Thanks also to the fans for this award but the most important thing for me and the club is that we are up there fighting for the league at the end of the season.’
The Spain international then set up the winner in Chelsea’s comeback to win 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur, rounding off a fruitful month from both a team and individual perspective. His success ensured the honour stayed in Blues hands, Eden Hazard having clinched the October prize.
‘Things are going well at the moment. The team is doing well and this shows that things are working out for me,’ Diego Costa said.
‘The team performance has a bearing on this individual award. If we were bottom, I doubt I’d have won it. So, it’s down to my team-mates, thanks to the club and hopefully we can continue this winning run. Thanks also to the fans for this award but the most important thing for me and the club is that we are up there fighting for the league at the end of the season.’
 |
| L-R Pedro, Conte and Costa posing with awards |
This is the second time Diego Costa has been awarded the accolade. He was recognised for his blistering start to English football in August 2014. It is the 18th time for a Chelsea player and our seventh Manager and Player of the Month double.
Pedro completed the historic clean sweep by claiming the Goal of the Month trophy. His curling equaliser at Stamford Bridge against Tottenham stood out among a shortlist of eight stunning goals, including Hazard’s second versus Everton.
‘This is the best goal I have scored for Chelsea,’ Pedro said. ‘The game was very difficult, it was a derby, and the goal came at the right moment for us. It was important to score before half-time. Thank you to the fans for voting for me. I am very happy with this award.’
All three awards were decided by a combination of votes from a panel of experts and Premier League supporters. The picks reflect Chelsea’s promising lead-up to the festive period which has opened up a three-point gap at the top of the Premier League table.
‘Sunday is the type of game we will find difficult if we don’t have the same focus as in previous matches. We’ve worked very well this week and I’m waiting on a good performance from my players.’
With regards to player availability for Sunday’s game, Conte was pleased to report Nemanja Matic is available once again after missing the trip to Manchester City, although Oscar is sick. John Terry is the only other player unavailable.
Both Cesc Fabregas and Willian impressed in the win at the Etihad, and Conte was delighted to see players who haven’t featured as much of late providing him with selection headaches in a positive way.
‘I hope to have this difficult decision in every game, it means I have great competition in my squad and the level is improving,’ said the Blues boss.
‘Cesc played a good game against City and took his opportunity. Now for the next game I have a choice of four midfielders – Kante, Matic, Fabregas and Chalobah - and I have to take the best decision for the team.
‘It’s very important that we have good competition. If I have to put out the same line-up it’s not good.’
Conte, who revealed his former player Andrea Pirlo was a visitor to Cobham today, was also asked about the recent form of David Luiz.
‘He’s playing great football with attention and concentration, I like this,’ he responded. ‘He has to continue in this way. You know football, you can play fantastically but if you make mistakes it changes opinions.
‘I always repeat to my players they must stay focused and continue to work. The next game is the most important game of the season.’
Another player Conte was asked about was John Mikel Obi, who is yet to feature for the Blues this season.
‘The situation is simple: he’s in the squad and he stays with us,’ said the Italian. ‘We know at the end of the season his contract is going to expire but I don’t know what will happen. For every single game I take my decision.’
Sunday’s game is the first of three in the space of a week, with away trips to Sunderland and Crystal Palace to follow.
Conte says the busy upcoming schedule may mean he has to rotate his players.
‘We’ll have three games in seven days so it’s important to have all the players in good form,’ he added. ‘I could take the decision to rotate but the most important thing now is to think game by game.
‘Now it’s West Bromwich Albion, it’s important to be fully concentrated on that game. After that it's important to determine if we have any new injuries or if I see a player is tired or not. To tell now if I will rotate is very difficult.’
Pedro completed the historic clean sweep by claiming the Goal of the Month trophy. His curling equaliser at Stamford Bridge against Tottenham stood out among a shortlist of eight stunning goals, including Hazard’s second versus Everton.
‘This is the best goal I have scored for Chelsea,’ Pedro said. ‘The game was very difficult, it was a derby, and the goal came at the right moment for us. It was important to score before half-time. Thank you to the fans for voting for me. I am very happy with this award.’
All three awards were decided by a combination of votes from a panel of experts and Premier League supporters. The picks reflect Chelsea’s promising lead-up to the festive period which has opened up a three-point gap at the top of the Premier League table.
‘Sunday is the type of game we will find difficult if we don’t have the same focus as in previous matches. We’ve worked very well this week and I’m waiting on a good performance from my players.’
With regards to player availability for Sunday’s game, Conte was pleased to report Nemanja Matic is available once again after missing the trip to Manchester City, although Oscar is sick. John Terry is the only other player unavailable.
Both Cesc Fabregas and Willian impressed in the win at the Etihad, and Conte was delighted to see players who haven’t featured as much of late providing him with selection headaches in a positive way.
‘I hope to have this difficult decision in every game, it means I have great competition in my squad and the level is improving,’ said the Blues boss.
‘Cesc played a good game against City and took his opportunity. Now for the next game I have a choice of four midfielders – Kante, Matic, Fabregas and Chalobah - and I have to take the best decision for the team.
‘It’s very important that we have good competition. If I have to put out the same line-up it’s not good.’
Conte, who revealed his former player Andrea Pirlo was a visitor to Cobham today, was also asked about the recent form of David Luiz.
‘He’s playing great football with attention and concentration, I like this,’ he responded. ‘He has to continue in this way. You know football, you can play fantastically but if you make mistakes it changes opinions.
‘I always repeat to my players they must stay focused and continue to work. The next game is the most important game of the season.’
Another player Conte was asked about was John Mikel Obi, who is yet to feature for the Blues this season.
‘The situation is simple: he’s in the squad and he stays with us,’ said the Italian. ‘We know at the end of the season his contract is going to expire but I don’t know what will happen. For every single game I take my decision.’
Sunday’s game is the first of three in the space of a week, with away trips to Sunderland and Crystal Palace to follow.
Conte says the busy upcoming schedule may mean he has to rotate his players.
‘We’ll have three games in seven days so it’s important to have all the players in good form,’ he added. ‘I could take the decision to rotate but the most important thing now is to think game by game.
‘Now it’s West Bromwich Albion, it’s important to be fully concentrated on that game. After that it's important to determine if we have any new injuries or if I see a player is tired or not. To tell now if I will rotate is very difficult.’
Tags:
SPORTS