Conte puts victory ahead of players’ happiness

Antonio Conte prioritises winning over his Chelsea players’ happiness and has told Diego Costa to focus on the club’s push for the Premier League and FA Cup double after further speculation over the striker’s future.

Costa has again been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian while speculation also continues to surround the future of midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is not guaranteed a starting spot under Conte.

The Italian did not clarify Costa’s situation yesterday, saying: “The present is very important for us. Now is more important than the future.” And when he was later asked if he could keep Fabregas happy, Conte outlined his preference.

“I like to underline a concept – that I mustn’t keep the players happy. We must win,” he added. “You speak about ‘happy’. I speak about ‘ to win’ and to work very hard. Players are not always happy to work very hard. But I think my target is to put in the mind of my players a winning mentality, and a winning mentality doesn’t have to keep the players happy. It’s very difficult to keep 20 players happy.

“I don’t want this. I want players ready to fight and to try to put themselves in the team, to try to win together. Then, if you are happy or unhappy, I don’t care.”

There were claims in January that Costa’s head had been turned by a lucrative offer to join Tianjin. Reports resurfaced this week of a move being agreed, although Tianjin took to Weibo – China’s equivalent of Twitter – to deny any negotiations had taken place. “I don’t know about this,” Conte said.

Costa has two years left on his contract, is 29 in October and Chelsea may be prepared to sell and reinvest the funds – reportedly in the region of £76 million – in the squad.

Conte has no doubt about Costa’s focus. “I’m not worried about this,” he added. I can see the right concentration, the right focus, about my players.”