Revealed! The REAL reason Chelsea's Diego Costa had a go at boss Antonio Conte against Leicester.

It was initially thought the striker wanted to go off to avoid suspension or rest a minor injury — but it's understood he was just sick of the manager nagging him

Diego Costa clashed with his Chelsea boss Antonio Conte after growing fed-up with being screamed at from the touchline.

Fans thought the striker indicated he wanted to come off during the win against Leicester to avoid a suspension, as he was only one booking away from a ban, or because he had a slight knock.

But Mirrorsport understands he was actually furious at what he saw as Conte’s criticism of his performance.
Star Costa, the Premier League’s leading scorer, has presented the Italian with his first big test since taking over in the summer.

In scenes reminiscent of his clash with then-boss Jose Mourinho last season, the 28-year-old dared Conte to substitute him if he was not happy with his display in the 3-0 victory over the reigning Premier League champions.
Watching fans were puzzled by Costa's gestures to the bench after 70 minutes on Saturday...

The controversial marksman - who also exchanged angry words with former Juventus and Italy coach Conte afterwards - was later told in no uncertain terms not to repeat his actions.
Mourinho dropped Costa for the very next game after a similar set-to last November.

It remains to be seen whether Conte will act in a similar way after this challenge to his authority.
Conte is well known for enthusiastically micro-managing his players from the touchline.

During the second half on Saturday, Costa’s patience snapped. He gave his manager both barrels from the pitch and was still fuming after the final whistle, before later calming down.

Last November, the Brazil-born Spain international clashed angrily with Mourinho during a Champions League game away to Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

The pair had a blazing row just before half-time in that match, with Costa giving as good as he got from the pitch.
It is claimed he also dared Mourinho to take him off if he was unhappy with his play.

Although he reappeared for the second half, Costa walked off at the end of that match without shaking his manager’s hand.

Conte said after Saturday’s match: “I know that in football when you are winning 2-0, in 10 or 15 minutes you can be losing.

"For this reason, I always stay (on edge) to maintain the right atmosphere on the pitch for my players.”

Pat Nevin: When Sunday comes.

Former Blue Pat Nevin is anticipating an intriguing game at the Bridge this weekend, and it is the performances of the players in contrasting circumstances and the tactical contest which interests him most…

Was it just a wobble or was it more than that? Certainly the Liverpool and Arsenal games were hugely disappointing but the league table doesn’t look too shabby right now following the two wins in a row since Antonio Conte changed the system to a 3-4-3.

The second half against Hull was a totally dominant display and the first half against Leicester was among the best halves we have witnessed at the Bridge over the past couple of seasons, although both opponents are not exactly in the best form at the moment if we are to be honest about it.

There are no certainties in the Premier League but there was still plenty to be positive about at the weekend. When the team sheets arrived before midday however to show no Cesc Fabregas, Branislav Ivanovic, William, Oscar or of course Kurt Zouma in the squad, it felt like a lot of first-choice players missing against the reigning champions could mean a difficult afternoon. Chelsea made light work of it, and quite a few were quick to point to the youth on the bench. Ola Aina, Dominic Solanke and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were all champing at the bit but it was of course Nathaniel Chalobah who made the biggest impression with his involvement in the third goal. It was a beauty to behold.

The result also underlined that this season looks likely to stay tight for quite some time, if not right to the end. ‘Chelsea in Crisis’ columns were being readied a few weeks back while Man City were already being talked about as runaway champions. Man United were having a nightmare apparently while Arsenal and Spurs were also considered to have the look of potential league winners.
It is all far too early to have any clue. Just for fun, look at the league table for the season so far and change just a couple of goals.
-
Had Man Utd beaten Man City 2-1 instead of the other way around, United would now be above City. That would change the narrative a bit would it not?

The coaches know this and they also know that you can’t win anything at this point in the season, but you can lose your chance of the title. The top seven are bunched very nicely and those big-city clubs would have been many people’s choice before the start of the season for who would be in the top seven at the end.

So Man Utd will turn up at the Bridge at the weekend and for the first time in many a generation a Red Devils manager will be applauded warmly by the Chelsea fans. It will be a strange day for Jose as we know he still has great affection for our club. He will however still be desperate to win against us obviously. More pertinently, he will turn up knowing that his team have been stressed far more than Chelsea in the preceding days.

The Monday night game between Liverpool and United was far from the classic it was built up (interminably) to be. It was however pretty fast, furious and wearing. There is their Fenerbahce game to deal with on Thursday as well. In many ways Jose will be feeling the preparation could not have been harder, especially considering the comparative rest the Chelsea team has had. So while they get tired and possibly injured, our lads get rested or allowed time to come back from injury.

Even so, it will be a tough game with little likelihood of one side hammering the other. The media build-up will be huge once more and even though it is Chelsea v Manchester United, it will be billed as Jose’s return more than anything else. In reality, he will almost certainly be back many times in the future and probably in more important circumstances than this one, but this will be the poignant one, for him and for us. If they do score, I somehow suspect he will not go running down the touchline sliding on his knees or punching the air in front of the United fans, but he may well be quite animated on the touchline. Acres of newsprint, hours of news time and a multitude of sports programmes will pour over this story, but once again I’ll be looking beyond this picture very quickly.

By the time Sunday comes, I will only be interested in the game between the two teams and the tactical battle between the two coaches. It should be fascinating. Jose knows our players inside out but does he have an answer to the different way Antonio Conte is using them? Which boss will blink first regarding the systems which are hugely different. Will one change to match up to the other?

This will be an intriguing game and depending on whether or not Man United open up a bit, it could be very exciting too. It would not surprise me however if they were just a bit cagey to say the least. Tired players who aren’t all in the first flush of youth, mixed with a few struggling to regain their best form, is not the best recipe for a high-tempo, high-pressing game at the best of times. It is even harder away from home against a Chelsea side who look resurgent.

Whatever happens, for once both managers in this fixture will be applauded from the field at the end, which is the way it should be.

Clubs official site.

Are u guys kidding me? eh? chelsea fans slating JM after last night game, hmm.
U sooooooo enjoyed his tactics, u had to employ him the 2nd time nd yet u have d temerity to yarn lubbish cos its united? shame no dy catsh una sef?
smh...

Diego Costa vs. Antonio Conte: Much ado about ... something?

The English media is alive with the sound of Costa vs. Conte this morning, and they're all singing the same tune.

MAIL: Diego Costa warned about disrespect after Chelsea striker's clash with Antonio Conte over team instructions

TELEGRAPH: Chelsea order Diego Costa to hold his tongue in public after hectoring Antonio Conte

And so on.

Safe to say, there is ... something ... to all this. But that something, as it turns out, is very little, if anything concerning. Certainly at this time. It might of course one day grow into something concerning, but it also might not. It probably will not, though speculating is a bit useless. I would assume that mature, professional heads would prevail, that none of the involved parties are actually five years old (even if they might behave as such at times on the pitch), but you know what happens when you assume...

MAIL:

Conte was keen to deal with the incident without fuss and Costa, although notorious for his short-fuse, is not thought to be someone who holds a grudge and was seen fooling around with bystanders in the tunnel before leaving Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
TELEGRAPH:

Costa was seen laughing and joking when the Chelsea players had changed and left the dressing room, suggesting the incident was quickly dealt with and that the Spain international did not hold a grudge.
And so on.

You might not be surprised to learn that we have the Spanish media to thank for all this brouhaha. The assumption immediately after the match had been that Costa wanted to come off to ensure that he doesn't get suspended for the next match by potentially receiving his fifth yellow card of the season, but thanks to some intrepid Spanish lipreaders, that theory has been subverted.

Conte recrimina a Costa un error en el tiro. DC: "La puta que te parió. Cámbiame si no te gusta" pic.twitter.com/OQtHqaRp09

— Diego G. Argota (@Diego21Garcia) October 15, 2016
According to Marca, part of what Diego is screaming back at the bench is "Si no te voy bien... ¡cámbiame!" (other parts may or may not contain a few expletives). That, more or less, translates to "If you don't like it, take me off" — which is how the conclusions about Costa getting a bit miffed about Conte's constant coercing have come about.

And I could certainly see a scenario where Conte's micro-management from the sidelines could get on someone's nerves, especially when the match is well in control. But these sorts of things can and do happen in the heightened emotional atmosphere of a high-stakes match (and not just in football), especially when two passionate individuals like Costa and Conte are involved. The vast majority of time, flashpoints like this get resolved behind the scenes and without too much fuss or elaborate ceremony. Conte had already played it down immediately after the match, and it sounds like Costa didn't really care either by the end of the day. They'll make for a juicy tabloid story or two, but won't have any lasting negative impact beyond that. And that's probably exactly what's going to happen here as well.

Carry on.

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2016/10/18/13314768/never-a-boring-day-is-there

raumdeuter:


As in Fellaini is the 10, Ashley Young the Left winger

Thanks to Trendlona for screenshoting that frame.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/4370874_img20161018wa0003_jpegf9561e29bfab213159f77cd06595d35d

What's the difference between this and a Rugby defensive line below?



The style of play was even the same. Manchester United RFC.

Kit wars: Chelsea £900m deal is still second to Man Utd, who trail Real Madrid

Adidas vs Nike or Man Utd vs Chelsea. The apparent ease with which Adidas let Nike takeover at Chelsea in a new £60 million per year, 15-year deal, suggests an even greater concentration by the sportswear sponsors on the mega club brands.

While Chelsea is certainly a big club brand, the scale of the difference between their deal (sum and term) and Manchester United’s, put them very much into a second, ‘non-galactico’ tier of clubs.

Adidas were paying £30 million a year for their Chelsea deal which had a year to run. Nike will double that to £60 million, but Manchester United are still earning £75 million a year from a 10-year Adidas deal signed in 2014.

If there is any suspicion that Adidas had just lost its appetite for big money kit deals then think again. Adidas pays Real Madrid £106 million a year. Nike of course have Barcelona on a similar super-sized deal.

£900 million over 15 years for Chelsea is nevertheless a huge commitment for the US brand and the West London club will almost certainly return to seriously challenging for major English and European honours in the next couple of seasons as new manager Antonio Conte is greenlighted to improve his aging squad.

The club also has the advantage of an underpinning kit supplier deal as it goes through the major business decisions of rebuilding and increasing the capacity of its Stamford Bridge stadium over the next 4/5 years. At the end of that process Nike will still be in place.

Chelsea paid £40 million to Adidas to exit their contract a year early. With all the other decisions the club needs to make as it evolves on and off the pitch, this looks like good business. It nails down a key sponsor deal for the journey.

“This is an incredibly exciting and important deal for the club,” said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. “Like Chelsea, Nike is known around the world for its excellence and innovation and we look forward to working together in what is sure to be a successful partnership. We believe Nike will be able to support our growth into new markets as well as helping us maintain our place among the world’s elite football clubs.”

The sponsorship was described in a club statement as the largest commercial deal in the club’s history. There was no indication if the deal is capped at the £60 million per year level or whether there are performance related bonuses on top.

Trevor Edwards, president of the Nike brand, said: “Chelsea is a world-class club with a rich tradition and passionate fans across the globe. The partnership with Chelsea reinforces our leadership position in football. We are excited to help grow the club’s global reach, serving players and supporters with Nike innovation and design.”

What both Granovskaia and Edwards have emphasised is that this deal is intended to push both brands globally and not just in the UK market. Chelsea has generally been slower into international markets in terms of sponsor deals and outreach than it’s the Nike deal could signify that a change in the club’s commercial focus is starting to be engineered more aggressively.

Beginning with the 2017/18 season, Nike will produce kit for the first team, Academy and Ladies teams, as well as a full range of clothing.

Kit wars: Chelsea £900m deal is still second to Man Utd, who trail Real Madrid
Man Utd: big buyers or smart selectors?

http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2016/10/18/kit-wars-chelsea-900m-deal-still-second-man-utd-trail-real-madrid/

Nihilist:
Thanks to Trendlona for screenshoting that frame.

What's the difference between this and a Rugby defensive line below?

The style of play was even the same. Manchester United RFC.

I get the kick and the awesome feeling when a lower team uses that tactic to get results vs a vastly superior team but when you have one of the most expensive sides ever assembled and still play like this against a team of lesser or even equal quality?

Who am I kidding, someone who parked the bus vs David Moyes side

raumdeuter:


I get the kick and the awesome feeling when a lower team uses that tactic to get results vs a vastly superior team but when you have one of the most expensive sides ever assembled and still play like this against a team of lesser or even equal quality?

Who am I kidding, someone who parked the bus vs David Moyes side

To be fair though, Liverpool always struggle agaisnt the smaller sides who park the bus. Just look at how they struggled against Burnley. Of course, Sean Dyche is also known as the ginger Mourinho..

Nihilist:


Have a look at the stats below.

The likes of Griezman and Muller arent necessarily taking that many more shots than Hazard. Griezmann in particular took exactly the same number of shots as Hazard that year....and even had a lower shot accuracy...yet he scored more goals.

I posted earlier how 8 la liga teams in 2014/15 conceded 60+ goals that year, unlike England where only 1 team had such a shockingly bad defence, so perhaps this positively affected Griezmann's scoring rate.

But it's the number of keypasses I want to bring to your attention. Muller and Griezmann made significantly fewer key passes than Hazard - this is a function of players who are exclusively focused on scoring - Yet are unable to post significantly better raw numbers when it comes to shooting and goal scoring.

Ronaldo and Messi on the other hand have fantastic shooting AND passing numbers...and to me this is a clearest indicator of the skill bracket Hazard belongs to.

Griezmann is exclusively focused on scoring and yet cannot actually outshoot Hazard...

Hazard's problem is a mental problem, he has what it takes to at least be close to Ronaldo and Messi if not stay on par with them.

Nihilist, good job man. A brilliant exercise of quoting stats but fully understanding the full interpretation of the figures.

dopeJemi:


We are talking about players in your team, but let's dance to your tune

If I want league titles, I won't call on hazard or martial, goals and assists win titles not skills and fat asses, so if I want a player to carry my team to a league title i'll call neymar(brazil and barca) mkhitaryan(Shaktar)


Hazard?

Lille?? Young man,take a sit

Jose getting criticized because he didn't set up United in a way that would have lost him the game

bigkesh:

Lille?? Young man,take a sit

147 apps, 36 goals at Lille, Find a class young child

bigkesh:
Jose getting criticized because he didn't set up United in a way that would have lost him the game

I guess therein lies the problem I have with everything Jose. That annoying mentality of thinking "To set up otherwise, is to lose the game".

Apologies, perhaps I didn't get the memo. When did Liverpool become this all conquering, free scoring side, obliterating everything in their path? So much that to set up otherwise against Liverpool is akin to being on a "SURE PATH" to losing the game.

Wingback:


The guy fall hand but

Your Hazard is indeed mediocre.

You and the guy I nor know who come worse pass for you to use Hazard and mediocrity in same sentence. Smh.

dopeJemi:


147 apps, 36 goals at Lille, Find a class young child

Who led Lille to the French league title?

Oya talk nonsense

nateevs:


I guess therein lies the problem I have with everything Jose. That annoying mentality of thinking "To set up otherwise, is to lose the game".

Apologies, perhaps I didn't get the memo. When did Liverpool become this all conquering, free scoring side, obliterating everything in their path? So much that to set up otherwise against Liverpool is akin to being on a "SURE PATH" to losing the game.

They have scored most,created most,covered most distance, completed most dribbles

You leave space behind and you are done


I know Jose is defensive but the set up yesterday was the best,it wasn't like they were defensive throughout.... They went matched Liverpool throughout the first half but they couldn't match them for 90mins

Jose can be very defensive but it was needed yesterday

bigkesh:


They have scored most,created most,covered most distance, completed most dribbles

You leave space behind and you are done


I know Jose is defensive but the set up yesterday was the best,it wasn't like they were defensive throughout.... They went matched Liverpool throughout the first half but they couldn't match them for 90mins

Jose can be very defensive but it was needed yesterday

Pogba cost more than the entire Burnley squad.

Burnley have beaten Liverpool this season.

Burnley have beaten Liverpool to nil.

Prior to last night Liverpool had conceded in their last 5 EPL matches so it's not as if they were not vulnerable. It was seeing Rashford playng at rightback that made me realise how pathetic the setup was last night.

bigkesh:

Who led Lille to the French league title?

Oya talk nonsense

By scoring how many goals?

Ibime:


Timing of runs is the main difference between those who score goals and those who don't. Most professional footballers can hit a shot on target and many have similar conversion stats. The difference between the supreme goalscorers and the others is they get more volume of shots due to the fact they arrive in the box frequently and at the right time. Hazard would need to learn to score tapins just by making the right runs to be able to compete with the likes of Muller, Griezmann and Neymar for goal output. Ororo and Messi is another story.

And for that to happen the burden of chance creation has to be shared and his defensive duties have got to be reduced and most importantly he has to have that hunger which i don't think he has.

bigkesh:
They have scored most,created most,covered most distance, completed most dribbles

You leave space behind and you are done


I know Jose is defensive but the set up yesterday was the best,it wasn't like they were defensive throughout.... They went matched Liverpool throughout the first half but they couldn't match them for 90mins

Jose can be very defensive but it was needed yesterday

So whats the point of spending those outrageous amount if you will still setup like Tony Pulis Stoke City? What will it take Mourinho to take the initiative to a team like Liverpool. This is Liverpool o, the same one Sevilla took to the cleaners. Are you saying Man Utd dont have enought talents to match Liverpool?

Any semi tough game, you see Mourinho cowering and going for safety first. Even if its vs a David Moyes side. That was the same way he setup vs City until he was down 2-0. The only 2 top sides he has faced this season are City and Liverpool and the approach has been same

Imagine Fellani as 10 Young as winger vs ordinary Liverpool. If he was to face Barca then maybe he will use 2 goalkeepers and Fellaini as striker

Nihilist:

To be fair though, Liverpool always struggle agaisnt the smaller sides who park the bus. Just look at how they struggled against Burnley. Of course, Sean Dyche is also known as the ginger Mourinho..

If you also take the game to Liverpool they will struggle, DIdnt Sevilla tame their initial gra gra last season

raumdeuter:


So whats the point of spending those outrageous amount if you will still setup like Tony Pulis Stoke City? What will it take Mourinho to take the initiative to a team like Liverpool. This is Liverpool o, the same one Sevilla took to the cleaners. Are you saying Man Utd dont have enought talents to match Liverpool?

Any semi tough game, you see Mourinho cowering and going for safety first. Even if its vs a David Moyes side. That was the same way he setup vs City until he was down 2-0. The only 2 top sides he has faced this season are City and Liverpool and the approach has been same

Imagine Fellani as 10 Young as winger vs ordinary Liverpool. If he was to face Barca then maybe he will use 2 goalkeepers and Fellaini as striker

Lmao

The emboldened made me remember this.

raumdeuter:


If you also take the game to Liverpool they will struggle, DIdnt Sevilla tame their initial gra gra last season

My point exactly. Take the game to them. Someone who has Ibra, Mhkitaryan, Pogba, Mata, Rashford and cannot formulate any manner of sustained attacking football. Pep will turn these 5 players into ultra productive players defying all records, Liverpool will need to park a train.

dopeJemi:


By scoring how many goals?

Smh.....stop embarrassing yaself

How many goals did Zidane and iniesta score?? He didn't need goals to win the best player award back to back

Nihilist:


Pogba cost more than the entire Burnley squad.

Burnley have beaten Liverpool this season.

Burnley have beaten Liverpool to nil.

Prior to last night Liverpool had conceded in their last 5 EPL matches so it's not as if they were not vulnerable. It was seeing Rashford playng at rightback that made me realise how pathetic the setup was last night.

Burnley beat liverpool by playing this very style,i know you will being in the difference in quality

If you keep using Pogba's fee as an example then United should win every game in the league,we all know they overpaid for him

Arsenal played open against them and conceded 4,with the atmosphere and crowd and confidence at anfield it was good to play it safe

United might have more quality than Liverpool but so far this season Liverpool has been devastating in front of goal,even more than city

raumdeuter:


If you also take the game to Liverpool they will struggle, DIdnt Sevilla tame their initial gra gra last season

This is a different liverpool

Hope you realise they have been better than Pep's city attacking wise

bigkesh:


Smh.....stop embarrassing yaself

How many goals did Zidane and iniesta score?? He didn't need goals to win the best player award back to back

Stop fooling yourself

You said he led his Lille team to the league title, explain to me how he led his team to the league title? Is it by wearing the captain armband? Or by scoring vital goals that won them the league? I want to believe it's the latter, so I ask again, How many goals?

Answer it as it has been asked, don't want long stories

No matter how I look at it,even with a bias EPL fan eye.....I don't see Spurs getting anything out of the Leverkusen game

I just hope they can do it


If you think Klopp is the master of pressing, watch Schmidt tonight

bigkesh:
No matter how I look at it,even with a bias EPL fan eye.....I don't see Spurs getting anything out of the Leverkusen game

I just hope they can do it


If you think Klopp is the master of pressing, watch Schmidt tonight

Schmidt presses senselessly If Spurs can lift the ball over the first press watch Tah and Toprak start scrambling and maybe Leno will stop some shots

Schmidt has not learnt anything . Thats why he is languishing in 10th position

For Leverkusen just dont follow them to do the gragra, Just wait and lift the ball over their press They press with 7 players and depend on the athleticism of Tah and Leno to cover themselves

bigkesh:

This is a different liverpool

Hope you realise they have been better than Pep's city attacking wise

Attacking wise what is different from this Liverpool vs the one that played Sevilla? Mane?

If this Liverpool were to be in Europe you would see how those normal continental teams would handle them not even the elites

BTW Icardi should be available,

He went to tell the Inter Milan ultras that he would import 100 bad ultras from Argentina who would kick their asss

He has been stripped of the captain band