Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa has launched a scathing attack on his ex-manager Antonio Conte, claiming the Italian coach was constantly angry and unpopular among players during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Costa joined Chelsea from Atlético Madrid in 2014 for £32 million and quickly became a cult hero among the Blues’ supporters, thanks to his combative style, relentless work rate and eye for goal. The striker enjoyed a highly successful spell in west London, winning two Premier League titles and a League Cup during his time at the club.
The Brazilian-born forward was also named in the PFA Team of the Year after scoring 20 league goals in his debut Premier League season, underlining his impact as Chelsea reclaimed the title.
Costa initially enjoyed a positive working relationship with Conte following the Italian’s arrival in 2016. Their partnership appeared strong early in the 2016/17 campaign, with Costa winning Premier League Player of the Month and Conte claiming Manager of the Month honours in November.
However, the relationship soon deteriorated. Costa was effectively frozen out of the squad after just a few months, amid strong interest from clubs in the Chinese Super League. Conte later informed the striker via text message that he was no longer part of his plans ahead of the following season, a move that sparked widespread controversy at the time.
After leaving Chelsea, Costa returned to Atlético Madrid for a second spell before later featuring for Atlético Mineiro, Wolves and Botafogo. He is currently without a club following the expiration of his contract with Brazilian side Grêmio earlier this month.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by former Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel, Costa reflected on several topics from his career, including the infamous “Battle of the Bridge” clash with Tottenham and his admiration for club legend Didier Drogba. However, it was his comments about Conte that generated the most attention after a preview clip from the interview went viral on social media.
Looking back on his time under Conte, now head coach of Napoli, Costa did not hold back.
“He’s a person who doesn’t trust others. He thinks he knows everything,” Costa said. “You don’t enjoy training with him. He’s always angry, always with a long face.
“The players wanted to come back, but nobody liked him. That’s why he didn’t last long. The past is the past.”
In contrast, Costa named José Mourinho as the manager he enjoyed playing under the most at Chelsea.
“He gives you life,” Costa added. “You come to training happy.”
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