Costa absent but still no start for Batshuayi
A reported bust-up with coaching staff led to Diego Costa being left out against Leicester City, but Michy Batshuayi remains on the bench.
Diego Costa's absence from the Chelsea squad was not enough to see Michy Batshuayi handed a start in Saturday's clash with Premier League champions Leicester City.
Spain striker Costa – rumoured to be the target of a big-money bid from Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian – was dropped after a reported bust-up with manager Antonio Conte and fitness coach Julio Tous in training this week.
It is understood the disagreement centred on Costa's fitness, with the 28-year-old having missed three days of training in the build-up to this weekend's match at the King Power Stadium.
Batshuayi, who scored in the 4-1 FA Cup win over third-tier Peterborough United last time out, has not made a start in the Premier League since signing from Marseille in July.
With 14 goals, Costa is the joint top-scorer in the division, helping Conte's side to the summit following an abysmal defence of their title last term, when the Foxes took full advantage.
