Former Chelsea forward reveals more about ‘always angry’ Napoli coach Conte | OneFootball

Diego Costa has revisited his turbulent relationship with Antonio Conte, offering a blunt assessment of the Napoli coach’s time at Chelsea and claiming tensions were widespread inside the dressing room despite on-field success.

Speaking on the podcast hosted by John Obi Mikel, via the Corriere dello Sport, the former Blues striker said Conte never truly connected with the squad during his spell in London, even as the club lifted the Premier League title.

Costa criticises Conte methods at Chelsea

According to Costa, results masked deeper issues that eventually surfaced.

“He’s someone who doesn’t trust others and thinks he knows everything,” Costa said. “Training under him isn’t enjoyable. He’s always nervous, always angry.” The forward suggested that the mood affected the group, adding that players wanted to move forward but felt increasingly disconnected from the manager.

Costa went further, claiming Conte’s approach wore thin quickly. “Nobody appreciated him, and that’s why he didn’t stay long,” he said, before striking a conciliatory note: “But that’s the past now.”

NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 04: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 04, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The coach’s methods have long divided opinion. At Chelsea, they delivered immediate success; at Napoli, they’ve brought intensity and clear demands. Costa’s comments, however, underline a recurring critique: that Conte’s relentless edge can strain relationships behind the scenes.

The former striker insisted there’s no lingering resentment, but his remarks add another chapter to a well-documented, uneasy partnership, one defined as much by trophies as by friction.