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‘My problem wasn’t with the crowd, it was with that coach’: Diego Costa takes a swipe at his former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte after the striker gets a standing ovation from Blues fans on his return to Stamford Bridge
- Diego Costa made an emotional return to Stamford Bridge with new club Wolves
- The Blues fans gave Costa a standing ovation when he was replaced off the pitch
- However, Costa took a swipe at former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte after the game
- He blamed the Italian for leaving the west side of London in 2017
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Diego Costa has taken a swipe at his former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, blaming the Italian for his departure from Stamford Bridge.
Costa returned to his old club on Saturday when he made his first start for Wolves, who joined the Spaniard last month.
The striker has scored 59 goals in 120 appearances for the Blues in three seasons, while also winning two Premier League titles with the club.
However, he left Chelsea in appalling conditions in 2017 and returned to Atletico Madrid after a falling out with then-West London boss Conte.
Diego Costa returned to his old club on Saturday when he made his first start for Wolves
The attacker enjoyed a successful three-year spell at the club before leaving in bitterness
Costa took a swipe at his former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and blamed the Italian for his departure
During Saturday’s game, he received a standing ovation from Chelsea fans when he was substituted in the second half.
And looking back to that moment after the game, Costa couldn’t help but berate his former manager at Stamford Bridge.
“I’ve never had a problem with the fans,” he told reporters after the game.
“My problem was not with the crowd, but with that coach,” Costa told reporters after the game
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte infamously fell for Costa while he was Chelsea boss
‘My problem was not with the audience, but with that coach. I left in bad terms with that manager, I left a champion for the second time and he didn’t count on me.
‘That was nothing I could do. I had to go. Today I showed that I did not leave on bad terms with the fans.
‘It’s very special. It is the feeling that in the time you spent here you have done a good job and left good memories.
“Chelsea fans have always treated me very well. I was always surprised by the way they treated me. It gives satisfaction.’
When Costa was knocked out, Blues fans began chanting the 34-year-old’s name, and he walked around the perimeter of the pitch after coming off, a route that took him right in front of the diehard Chelsea fans in the Matthew Harding Stand. brought who cheered loudly for him.
The home side defeated Costa’s new club 3-0 thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja.
Costa enjoyed a standing ovation from Chelsea fans on his return to Stamford Bridge
Costa’s journey around the edge of the playing field brought him past the Matthew Harding Stand