Chelsea are currently in some sought of a mini crisis, the club cannot win to save their lives and off field issues concerning transfers hangs on the necks of manager Antonio Conte and Sporting Director Michael Emelano.
The summer has not gone exactly to plan and one of their biggest yet unsolved issues is what to do with Diego Costa.
The striker revealed earlier in the summer, he has received a text message from Conte asking him to depart the club as he was not in his plans going forward.
Costa played victim. He conveniently disclosed this in a media interview while on international duty. The aftermath has been disastrous for the club, struggling to find a replacement and the constant questions thrown at the Italian manager during press conferences and interviews; where he has had to explain, the club took a position to seperate with Costa in January due to the the forward’s attitude following a interest from the Chinese Super League.
In an interview of his own, Costa broke his silence over his ongoing vendetta with the club, insisting he is being treated like a criminal by the Premier League champions.
I’m not a criminal! I don’t think it is fair after all I have done to be treated like that.
In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen.
His ideas are very fixed and clear. I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change.
Diego Costa, Daily Mail
Criminal may be too strong a word, but what we have witnessed these last few weeks may suggest he knows what he is saying. The narrative however, will not be changed in the minds of some fans – Costa is not the victim, but Conte.
Costa will not be sold into that. He has his own views of the manager he won the title with just a couple of months ago.
I respect him as a great coach. He has done a good job and I can see that, but as a person, no. He is not a coach who is very close with his players. He is very distant. He doesn’t possess charisma.
Conte has his mentality. He thinks it’s the best way of working.
He arrived from an Italian league where everyone is very serious and arrived in a dressing room where there are maybe more jokes.
The worst bit of all this, it is for the fans. They have always treated me so well — always, always. For this, I am sad. I hope they understand things happen in football.
Conte is a great coach. He deserves to be where he is but it’s his opinion. He has his reasons.
Diego Costa
