Featured image credit: PA Images
Diego Costa seems to love nothing more than shithousing his way through every 90 minutes of football he plays, pestering opposition defenders and infuriating rival fans. So it was surprising when Chelsea's Spanish striker appeared to call to the bench to be brought off during the Blues' 3-0 victory over the Champions, on Saturday.
Many believed Costa was either injured or hoping to avoid picking up another booking as he's one away from receiving a one match ban. However, it turns out the former Atletico Madrid man was actually sending a disapproving message to his manager, Antonio Conte.
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Despite Costa's first half goal, which took his tally to seven for the season, Conte was unimpressed with several aspects of his striker's game and Costa let the Italian know exactly what he thought of his boss' criticism, by signalling to the former Juventus and Italy chief that he could sub him if he wasn't happy with his performance.
Image credit: PA Images
After the match, Conte told a journalist, "No, no. I decide, me. Everything, substitutions. Always, I take the responsibility. In positive or negative situations, I take the decision to make the substitutions."
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It'll be interesting to see how Conte and Costa continue to work with each other over the course of the season. They seem to be coping pretty reasonably well together, so far but how long will Conte put up with the striker's pantomime villain attitude before tiring of it?
(H/T 101 Great Goals)
Topics: Football, Chelsea FC, Diego Costa, Antonio Conte