Antonio Conte will not buckle in war with Diego Costa as fiery Italian Chelsea boss refuses to be disrespected by players
Former Juventus player and manager went to war with some of the biggest names in Italy and won't back down to Blues striker
ANTONIO CONTE is laying down the law with Diego Costa as he refuses to be seen as weak by members of his Chelsea squad.
The strict Italian – known as the Iron Sergeant – has dropped the Premier League’s most ruthless striker for the crucial clash with Leicester on Saturday, as they aim to bounce back from their defeat to Spurs last time out.
The row has reportedly stemmed from a disagreement with one of Conte’s backroom staff and is now claiming he has a back injury keeping him out of action but there are also rumours he the Spain international is trying to force through a move to China.
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Conte has proved himself as an expert man-manager this season after getting the best out of Eden Hazard again, improving returned defender David Luiz and reinventing wing-back Victor Moses.
He even appeared to be getting the best out of Costa, after he went 11 games without a booking and bagged 14 top-flight goals, before this latest episode threatened to wreck Chelsea’s season.
When the former Atletico Madrid man was pictured with a beer hours after a game, Conte backed his star man and laughed off suggestions of unprofessionalism.
He also let him have extra time over Christmas when he returned to his native Brazil for a holiday.
But he has been pushed too far by the divisive forward and taken serious action, proving once again that no one in his Chelsea squad is untouchable.
Conte proved it when Cesc Fabregas was axed for ages after his dismal performance in the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in September. And John Terry’s prolonged absence from the first team proveds sentiment plays no part in his team selection.
Even as a player in Italy, Conte pulled no punches and went to war with legendary managers Marcello Lippi - over his position in the Juventus team - and Carlo Ancelotti after he took the Juve captaincy off him and handed it to Alessandro Del Piero.
There is no suggestion that Conte actively wants to sell Costa but he is known to be a bigger fan of both Fernando Llorente at Swansea and Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata.
The manager’s ingenious formation switch to 3-4-3 and successful attacking football – not to mention the notable lack of controversy or negative headlines made familiar under Jose Mourinho – jave made him flavour of the month with the Chelsea owner.
Roman Abramovich is ready and willing to back his man with money in current and summer transfer window which makes it clear he is ranked above any of the players in the squad who are more disposable that the Italian.