Diego Costa's Explosive Revelations: A Look Back at His Feud with Antonio Conte at Chelsea
Diego Costa recently made shocking claims about his time with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, revealing that 'nobody liked' the current Napoli boss during his tenure at Stamford Bridge. Let's delve into the fiery relationship between Costa and Conte and the turbulent events that unfolded.

Diego Costa has hit out at former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, claiming "nobody liked" the current Napoli boss when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge. Former Spain international Costa spent three seasons with the Blues, the last of which came in 2016-17 when they won the Premier League title under the fiery Italian. However, the pair fell out and Costa was soon sent back to previous club Atletico Madrid.Costa had spent two seasons at Chelsea before Conte's arrival. He won his first Premier League title under previous manager Jose Mourinho before a horrendous championship defence where the 'Special One' was sacked and the west London side ended up finishing tenth.The former Spain international was an instant hit at Stamford Bridge thanks to his prolific goalscoring and fiery temperament, bagging 20 strikes and being named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2014-15. After the disappointment of 2015-16, Conte arrived and implemented his trademark formation after a difficult start to the campaign. Chelsea won an incredible 13 games in a row to establish themselves as title favourites and suffered only two more defeats throughout the rest of the 2016-17 campaign after being beaten by Tottenham, eventually finishing at the top of the pile, seven points ahead of Spurs.However, Costa and Conte didn't always see eye to eye, and the striker rejoined Atletico in the 2018 January transfer window.Costa was left out of Chelsea's squad for an away match against Leicester in January 2017 after reportedly being involved in a dispute with a fitness coach, which led to a heated row with Conte. It coincided with the striker being offered an incredible £30 million-a-season contract (€34.4m/$38m) from a Chinese Super League club, with Conte allegedly shouting "go to China" during their argument.The transfer did not go through, however, and Costa was reintegrated into the first-team squad later in January, eventually helping the Blues win another league title. At the end of the season, Conte texted members of the Chelsea squad to wish them well for the summer break and reminded them to stay fit, with Costa sending a jokey reply back.However, Conte followed up his initial message by adding: "Hi Diego, I hope you are well. Thanks for the season we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan."A summer saga ensued and Costa eventually sealed a return to former club Atletico Madrid, although he couldn't play until January 2018 because of a transfer embargo the Spanish side had been placed under.Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Now, in a preview of an upcoming episode of John Obi Mikel's podcast, Costa revisited the feud and claimed his Chelsea team-mates were similarly dissatisfied working under the current Napoli manager.He said: "He is a person who doesn’t trust others. He thinks he knows everything. 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 and that’s why he didn’t last long. The past is the past."Costa added: "For me, Mourinho, personally, was the coach that I enjoyed the most. This is because he gives you life. You come to training happy."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingCosta ended up scoring 19 goals in 81 appearances during his second spell with Atletico, helping Diego Simeone's side win the 2020-21 La Liga title - though his contract had been terminated by December that season - the Europa League and a UEFA Super Cup.He returned to Brazil, the country of his birth, to spend a campaign with Atletico Mineiro before moving back to England to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He would score only once in 25 appearances for the West Midlands side and left after one season, later spending time with Botafogo and Gremio. His contract with the latter expired in 2024 but the 37-year-old has not yet officially retired from competitive football.Conte, meanwhile, remains in charge at Napoli. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night despite having a player's advantage for most of the game after Thomas Delaney was sent off. That result was described as "unacceptable" by midfielder Scott McTominay, with the Serie A side now in serious danger of missing out on the knockout stages, sitting 23rd in the table with only eight points before Wednesday's slate of games.
Diego Costa's Chelsea Journey
Diego Costa's time at Chelsea was filled with highs and lows. He initially enjoyed success under Jose Mourinho, winning his first Premier League title before experiencing a disappointing season that led to Mourinho's sacking.
The Arrival of Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte's arrival at Chelsea marked a turning point for the club. His tactical acumen and intense coaching style helped Chelsea secure the Premier League title in the 2016-17 season, with Costa playing a key role in their success.
Strained Relationship with Antonio Conte
Despite their early success together, Diego Costa and Antonio Conte's relationship soured. Reports of disputes and disagreements surfaced, leading to Costa's eventual departure back to Atletico Madrid.
The Fallout and Departure
An incident involving Costa and a fitness coach led to a heated confrontation with Conte. The striker was temporarily frozen out before being reintegrated into the squad. However, Conte made it clear that Costa was not in his plans for the future.
Diego Costa's Reflections
In a recent interview, Costa expressed his dissatisfaction with Conte's coaching style, highlighting a lack of trust and enjoyment in training sessions. He contrasted Conte with Mourinho, who he considered to be the coach he enjoyed working with the most.
Life After Chelsea
Following his departure from Chelsea, Costa enjoyed success with Atletico Madrid, helping them win La Liga and other titles. However, his subsequent stints with different clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers and Gremio, were less fruitful.
Conte's Current Endeavors
While Costa has moved on to different clubs, Antonio Conte continues his coaching career at Napoli. The team recently faced a setback in the Champions League, prompting criticism from players like Scott McTominay.















