Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said his side had put on a united front after Diego Costa marked his return with a goal in a 2-0 victory over Hull City
Chelsea’s Costa (right) celebrates his goal with teammates during the EPL match vs Hull City in London on Sunday. Pic/Getty Image
London: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said his side had put on a united front after Diego Costa marked his return with a goal in a 2-0 victory over Hull City.
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Absent from Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Leicester City amid reports he had been unsettled by an offer from China, Costa celebrated his opener on Sunday with a hand gesture suggestive of media chatter.
Conte claimed not to have seen the gesture, but with Chelsea having opened up an eight-point advantage at the top of the Premier League, he expressed confidence the matter had been put to bed.
Antonio Conte
“Honestly, I didn’t see because I was celebrating on the bench,” Conte said.
“We showed that we are a team with a great unity and I think this is the real value, because we are staying on top of the table,” he added. The speculation about Costa is unlikely to vanish overnight, but Conte said he was more worried about preserving Chelsea’s position in the table than worrying about his striker’s long-term future.
Asked if Costa signing a new contract would help to douse the rumours, Conte replied: “I don’t know. This decision is something we have to take together with the club. He’s very happy to stay with us and. For us, now, it’s very important to concentrate on the present and don’t see too far.
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