In-form striker talks about potential move
Chelsea hitman Diego Costa has revealed that he almost left Stamford Bridge this summer.
He was linked with a move back to Spain with Atletico Madrid, but was soon convinced to stay by new manager Antonio Conte.
And the gamble has paid off, with Costa on form and the highest scoring player in the Premier League. His goals have helped Chelsea to the top of the league and on an incredible 13 match win streak which has gone on since October.
This is a complete contrast to last season, where Costa had scored just 3 times before Jose Mourinho was sacked on December 17th, even though his form picked up slightly once Guus Hiddink was in charge.
Costa says he is happier at Chelsea now and praised manager Antonio Conte for being “someone whose support [the players]Â can count on in difficult moments”.
“Could I have gone in the summer? Yes, yes. I was about to leave,” he said. “I was about to but, well, I’m happy here as well and that’s that.
“Did I want to go? Yes, yes. I had the possibility to go to Atletico, because of a few things, the family, the life I have there but not because of Chelsea, because, here, there’s a lot of love with the supporters, with the people, so I’m here very happy, I’m very content.
“People love me a lot. There was one thing I wanted to change for family reasons but, well, it wasn’t to be and I continue to be happy here. It was important too that the manager, from the very first minute, said he counted on me.
“The truth is the manager is good with the players, every time making more jokes with the players, and that’s good for us, to have a manager who is not just a boss but like a person we can talk with, someone whose support we can count on in difficult moments.
“He is calm with the players and you can see the people love him more all the time.”
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
