“I left on bad terms”- Wolves’ Diego Costa happy with Chelsea fans’ reception on Stamford Bridge return

Wolves striker Diego Costa happy with Chelsea but aims a dig at Antonio Conte

Speaking to the media after the game (h/t Evening Standard), Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) striker Diego Costa, who spent three seasons at Chelsea, talked about being happy with the Blues fans but aimed a dig at former manager Antonio Conte.

Costa started for Wolves against Chelsea on Saturday but was substituted off before the full time. He was given a standing ovation from the home supporters at Stamford Bridge and he responded by clapping them back. The Blues won the game 3-0.

When asked about the ovation from the fans, the Spain international revealed that he left Chelsea on good terms with the fans, but on bad terms with the manager who was Conte at the time.

Here’s what the striker who won two Premier League titles with the Blues said (h/t Evening Standard):

“I’ve never had a problem with the fans. My problem was not with the crowd, it was with that coach [Conte]. I left on 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 leave. Today showed that I did not leave on bad terms with the fans.”

Costa’s time at Chelsea was an eventful one despite all the successes he had with the team. The 34-year-old scored 20 league goals in both seasons the Blues won the league (2014/15 and 2015/16) and led the line superbly.

It is not surprising to see the fans chanting his name and giving him a standing ovation because of the contributions he made to the club. It is also not surprising that he cleared it up for the umpteenth time that he left Chelsea because of a manager who he clearly had fallen out with.

The ironic thing is that the Blues haven’t been in a title race since 2017, the last time they won a league title with Costa in the team. And the sole thing the current team lacks is a striker of his calibre and clinical nature in front of goal.

But, life moves on. Costa is in the twilight of his career playing for Wolves, while Chelsea still search for a formula that can take them back to where they were five years ago.

More Chelsea News:

• Fikayo Tomori warns Chelsea about a rejuvenated AC Milan in the reverse Champions League fixture
• Marco van Basten calls it a ‘shame’ that Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech is not playing regularly
• Chelsea could make a move for Cristiano Ronaldo either in January or next summer

While fans were perhaps mentally preparing themselves for this to be a season of transition when Thomas Tuchel was sacked in September, Potter’s record since then raises the possibility that the club could finish the campaign with meaningful silverware.