Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson has admitted that he is relishing facing Diego Costa when his side plays host to Chelsea this weekend.

The centre-back said that taking on players like Costa is the reason he wants to remain in the Premier League.

"Diego Costa, for example, is the kind of opponent you look forward to as a great challenge," he told Sky Sports News. "That's why we want to be in this league. We're happy if people write us off against teams like this. It gives us that extra motivation to prove people wrong.

"It might have taken us a little bit of time to adapt to the Premier League but now I think we've remembered our identity. We've been difficult to break down, we're frustrating teams, and we're gaining points. Hopefully we can maintain those standards."

Boro will play host to Chelsea on Sunday.

Written by
Mark Langshaw