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Chelsea FC’s Predicted Starting Lineup 2016/2017

By Tyler Strauss

(Top L-R) Chelsea's Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, Chelsea's French defender Kurt Zouma, Chelsea's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic, Chelsea's English defender John Terry and Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa (bottom L-R) Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Oscar, Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea's Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman, Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Ramires and Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian pose before a UEFA Chamions league group stage football match between Chelsea and Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge stadium in west London on November 4, 2015. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
(Top L-R) Chelsea's Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, Chelsea's French defender Kurt Zouma, Chelsea's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic, Chelsea's English defender John Terry and Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa (bottom L-R) Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Oscar, Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea's Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman, Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Ramires and Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian pose before a UEFA Chamions league group stage football match between Chelsea and Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge stadium in west London on November 4, 2015. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates after he scores to make it 0-1 during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 24: Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates after he scores to make it 0-1 during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Diego Costa

To round out the Starting XI, who better to lead the line than Diego Costa. The Spanish striker has everything a manager would want in a striker and more.

Conte himself is a man who lives and manages on the edge. He never seems to be pleased and is always asking for the best out of his players. There’s always the possibility that he’ll fly off the hinge and deliver a strong berating of his players at half time in the dressing room. His will to win is incomparable and infectious.

And if there is a striker that most embodies the Italian’s ways, it’s Diego costa, in every single sense. Granted he’ll have his behavior issues, he always will. It’s a result of playing on the edge in this way. Conte has gotten himself in trouble every once in a while. But what allows them both to be so successful is their approach to every match.

Playing on the edge gives a player what they need to fight that extra couple yards. It’s that mentality that has lead Costa’s resurgence in the second half of Chelsea’s season and what made him deadly the year before.

Diego Costa will benefit from Hazard in the centre forward role, and this will allow him to play off the last man. Watch next season as Hazard consistently plays Costa through on goal. The Spaniard will bury his chances and the Blues will be all the better for sticking with their man.

Next: Conclusion

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