Conte out to channel Costa’s aggression

CHELSEA’S new manager has a message for his fiery striker Diego Costa: keep calm and listen to Antonio Conte.

The same ferocity which makes him such trouble for opposition defenders comes at a price in the form of bookings.

It was actively encouraged by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who signed him from Atletico Madrid for £32million in 2014, but Conte is hoping he can tame the beast, or at least focus his aggression.

Last season, Costa received 11 yellow cards in 44 games and was sent off against Everton in the FA Cup. The season before he picked up 12 bookings in 39 matches. The 27-year-old has already received two yellow cards in three Premier League games this season.

‘Diego is a passionate man,’ said Conte. ‘For this reason, sometimes, he risks the yellow card. But I want him to improve in this aspect. I want to have Diego Costa in all the games. I tell him, “Transfer your passion and enthusiasm in the right way and it’s good for me”.’

Costa also complained that the Spanish media were harsher on him than his international teammates because he does not play for Real Madrid or Barcelona but Conte said: ‘It’s important to be focused on the pitch. To leave the other situations.

‘Those other situations are not interesting for him, for me, for Chelsea, for the fans, or for the national team.’