Liverpool defender Joel Matip is adamant he does not fear Diego Costa ahead of Friday's Premier League encounter with Chelsea.
ADVERTISEMENT
Liverpool defender Joel Matip: Bring on Diego Costa
Joel Matip has stressed he is ready for everything Diego Costa will throw at him when Liverpool take on Chelsea on Friday
___5497765___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5497765___2016___9___16___15___joel-matip-cropped_1ebai4nvjjord1txtmdlygbonp
Recommended articles
Spain striker Costa has developed a reputation for physicality and is noted for his attempts to provoke opponents on the pitch.
Far from being deterred, Matip is relishing the chance to battle it out with the Chelsea centre-forward.
"If an opponent tries to talk to me during the game, really, I don't give a f***," Matip told The Telegraph.
ADVERTISEMENT
"There are players who try to say things in a game, but I never care about this. They can say what they want. I don't think anyone is like Costa. You can play against players who like to make you uncomfortable, but not too many with his size or as famous as him.
"It is always a fight against these big teams and you have to take on the battle. You have to go in there and fight, there is nothing else. As a defender that is something you like, to go out there and win the ball.
"But I don't prepare only for Costa. I prepare for the whole team. Maybe he will be my direct adversary and I will study to see how he moves. I have seen a lot of his games. But you can never prepare for one player out of 11.
"Against a more typical number nine at least you know these players and how they play, and where they will be on the pitch. You know what is going to happen, even if it is still difficult to play against."
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
The Intersection of Enthusiasm: United Kingdom's local motorsports and Ghana's rising stars
Video: Watch Fatawu Issahaku’s hat trick in Leicester City’s win against Southampton
RTU suspends coach Abdulai Mumin over match-fixing allegations
Hearts of Oak are better off playing with an empty post than using Richard Attah – Taylor
Sorry for causing you a lot of pain – Dr. Prosper Ogum apologizes to Kotoko fans
Govt hasn't paid us – African Games gold medalist Winnifred Ntumi 'cries' out
Dumsor is part of the reasons why we lost against Legon Cities – Hearts of Oak coach
Black Stars midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyereh to miss rest of season due to injury
