One of the most divisive managers in Chelsea history is former boss Antonio Conte, who managed the club for two seasons from 2016 until 2018.   

In the Italian's first season, he guided the club to a league title with 93 points, becoming the first manager to win 30 games in a Premier League campaign, with his 343 formation revolutionising the English game. 

However, things did not go as well in his second season, with the team falling to fifth place, public fallouts with the likes of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger, and he was eventually sacked in July. 

The above two players are not the only ones he fell out with, however. Indeed not, as a fallout with Diego Costa led to the striker leaving the club after the successful 2016 and 2017 season.

When recently speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Costa spoke about his former Chelsea manager in extraordinary terms: "I went on holiday, I had a chance to renew with Chelsea, but then I sent a text message to Conte - 'Boss, I want to know if you will count on me next season?'   

He replied to me via text message: 'Diego, thank you very much for everything you have done, but I am not counting on you.' He had something inside, because it's not normal for a coach not to count on a player who was his team's top scorer." 

After that, Costa continued: "I sent a message to Marina [Granovskaia], and she immediately told me that what he did could not be done, that he was not the owner of the team (so it wasn't his decision)." 

“In the end, I was in Brazil, I was with my family, and I told Marina that for everything I've done for the club, I don't deserve to be treated like this. He's a person who doesn't trust others. He thinks he knows everything."

Continuing with his story, the 37-year-old said, "You don't enjoy training with him. He's always angry, always with a long face. Probably, he doesn't have sex at home because he is a very bitter guy. 

It's a shame, because I was very happy in Chelsea, but I did not want to cause a problem to the club, but I did not want to cause a problem to the club, because if I come back, the players want me to come back, but nobody like him, that's why he didn't last long [at the club}.

The past is the past, it's a shame - the titles he won at Chelsea, he won [them] with me for his bad luck. So, I wish him all the best in his life, and that's it."

Some very strong comments from Costa. His story with Chelsea was incredible. He was only in West London for three seasons, but what a time it was. In the two seasons where he was top class, the club won two league titles. The Blues have not won a single one since then. 

Well, perhaps Chelsea can get one back for their former fan favourite by beating Conte's Napoli in the UEFA Champions League next Wednesday in Naples. Three points give a good chance of securing a top-eight passage and avoiding two extra play-off games next month.    

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