“Nobody liked him” — Diego Costa gives Mikel Obi honest verdict on ex-Chelsea boss

Diego Costa has reignited his long-standing feud with Antonio Conte, launching a scathing attack on the former Chelsea manager.

Reflecting on his controversial departure from Stamford Bridge, a saga that famously began with a "goodbye" text message from Conte following the 2016-17 title-winning season.

Speaking to his former teammate John Obi Mikel, the 37-year-old described the current Napoli boss as a distrustful and overbearing leader whose personality often clashed with the locker room.

Costa’s assessment of Conte’s coaching style was blunt, suggesting that the manager’s intensity often crossed the line into hostility.

“He is a person who doesn’t trust others. He thinks he knows everything,” Costa said on Mikel Obi's 'ObiOne Podcast'

“You don’t enjoy training with him; he’s always angry, always with a long face. The players wanted to return to training, but nobody liked him, and that’s why he didn’t last long. The past is the past.”

Costa was quick to compare Conte’s stern management to the style of Jose Mourinho, the coach who first brought him to London from Atletico Madrid in 2014.

While he felt Conte created a negative atmosphere, Costa described his time under Mourinho as the most enjoyable period of his career.

“For me, Mourinho was the coach I liked the most,” Costa admitted. “He gives you a spark. You actually feel happy coming to training every day.”

Despite the friction that eventually ended his time in England, Costa’s impact on the pitch was undeniable. During his three seasons at Stamford Bridge, he established himself as one of the most feared strikers in Europe, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances.