Shearer says: “Chelsea have still got the issue of how to control or manage Diego Costa”

Ahead of Swasnea v Chelsea, the Premier League offering from this weekend’s Super Sunday, Coral football ambassador Alan Shearer spoke exclusively to our own John Hill about new Blues boss Antonio Conte and temperamental Stamford Bridge striker Diego Costa.

Conte “not afraid to make big decisions”

Shearer says he has been impressed by the start made to Premier League life by ex-Italy and Juventus boss Conte, praising his courage to make bold selections and highlighting how Chelsea may have an edge over their title rivals.

“I love his antics on the touchline,” Shearer said. “He’s much like [Jurgen] Klopp, very animated. He’s not afraid to make big decisions, having left [Cesc] Fabregas out, but that has been justified by the results that Chelsea have had.

“[They’ve got] three wins out of three without being spectacular,” Shearer continued of Chelsea. “Much like Liverpool, I think they’ll benefit from no European football this year as the season goes on. I don’t think they’ll be that far away [from the Premier League title].”

Boundary-pushing Costa “will have one or two suspensions”

Despite previously backing the Blues’ star striker Costa over his physical style, Shearer feels that the Brazil-born Spain frontman shall inevitably pick up bans.

“They’ve still got the issue of how to control or manage Costa,” Shearer added. “He doesn’t seem to be wanting to change, [but] he’s a key player for them.