Diego Costa Exclusive: ‘Nobody Liked Conte At Chelsea’ | Mourinho V Simeone | Why Bad Boy Image Was Unfair

0:005 a.m. I'm up with a crisp Celsius energy drink.

0:03John Obi Mikel:Running 12 miles today. Grab a green juice, quick change, and head to work. Meetings, workshops. One more Celsius, no slowing down. Working late, but obviously still meeting the girls for a little dancing. Celsius. Live. Fit. Go. Grab a cold, refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate now at Celsius.com.

0:51Ugh. still apply. See website for details.

1:00We're back in London. It is the Obi-Wan podcast made possible by

1:04John Obi Mikel:a winner and John. I'm loving this. We've got a man here who looks far better than he's ever looked. He does. He's looking at you thinking like he wants to punch you right now. I'm saying good things, Diego. Only good things you're looking at, my friend. I'm scared. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Welcome, Diego. Welcome to the Obi-Wan Podcast. Yeah, yeah. Thank you, my friend. Thank you, thank you. How are you? How are you? You good? Yeah, yeah. Good, good. Tell us, what is Diego Costa up to right now? What are you doing? What is life about now for Diego Costa? Right now, I'm changing my son's diapers. I have a seven-month-old boy.

1:48I'm in Madrid, living with my family, because I was away for a long time. The last two years, I was playing in the Brazilian league and my family stayed in Madrid. So I decided to come back to Spain to be close to them because I have two daughters who are studying and I wasn't there. I was alone in Brazil and they were staying in Madrid. So in the end, I had to decide to come back to Madrid and now I'm enjoying the time with my family. How many nappies do you spend today? Usually too. When he poofs very often, I try to leave it until his mother arrives so she can change him. But the truth is that I'm doing really well.

2:29In the end, I have to do something, because when you are playing, you have an active and busy life, and now, when you stop, if you don't do anything, you struggle. In the end, with the little ones, I have a very difficult job, but I really enjoy it.

2:45John Obi Mikel:Officially, we've not heard. Are you officially, officially retired? It's possible, very possible. In the end, I didn't look for a team to play for. I had the options of staying in Brazil or going somewhere else, but nothing has given me the desire to continue. The truth is that I'm feeling fine at the moment, but you need to have a motivation, not just to play for the sake of playing. And in the end, I have to be with my family. So I think it's probably over. I will make the final decision at the end of the year. You spent three years at Chelsea, Diego, 2014 to 2017. You're back in London, of course.

3:24How do you reflect on your time at Chelsea? Was your three years at Stamford Bridge the happiest of your career? Yes, the truth is that I really enjoyed being in the Premier League, being in a team like Chelsea with so many high-quality players. I really enjoyed my three years here. We won two Premier League titles, I scored a lot of goals, to be honest, the fans, and I always had a very special connection. And I had a great time. It was a stage of my life that I really enjoyed. I have very good memories here, and because of that, I got the invitation to come and play at the Legends match here at Stamford Bridge.

4:04I came, but I don't normally like to play in those matches. But when I left home, I started to get excited to be in London with the fans, wearing the Chelsea shirt again, even if it's a legends match. And being with my old teammates and even if they never understand me, but with the mimic, signs or the way I speak, if they understand me, they always treat me very well. And I feel very welcome here. Of course, we talk a lot, Diego, about Jose Mourinho. He had a big personality. He was, you talk about it, John. Jose was larger than life. You look to me as if you've got a big personality as well.

4:43What was your relationship like with Jose? Did you guys work well together? For me, Mourinho personally was the coach I enjoyed the most. When the team was doing well, Mourinho was the best coach a player could ever have in your team. Because he gives you life. You come to training happy. You can enjoy yourself if he wins. If he loses, Mourinho is like, I don't know. I still don't know how he came about. He always was winning with so many success. I think he didn't know how to digest the defeats. But I think everyone who spent time with him, Mourinho had a very good relationship. Because when you win with him, you enjoy training sessions.

5:29He gives you days off. He's a person who listens to you. He gives you affection. If you need support, if you need something from the family or a day off, or if you are not feeling well, he always is by your side. He's a person with a strong character, but he has a very good heart.

5:46John Obi Mikel:I need to ask you, of course, about, you just mentioned there, Mourinho, but you spent most of your time as well in Atletico Madrid. What will you tell us about Diego Simeone? Obviously, he's been there for such a long time. He seemed to me like a manager that you will get into a fistfight with during the dressing room. Tell us, has there ever been a story about Diego Simeone? And what does Diego Simeone mean to you as a manager? No, no te creas. Simeone is... Simeone is very intense. He's a person in the touchline that the way he speaks transmit a lot the desire to win. But then, he doesn't like to clash with a player.

6:25He never goes direct at you. He's very clever. He's a person who's been there for many years. If he has a problem with a player, or if a player is angry, he will never confront it. When the team is struggling, that's where he's best to handle the situation. Because he's always positive, pushing forward, he never blames the player, he always takes the responsibilities. He's very intense, very strong in training. He shares a lot of love in trainings and in the way he lives the game. He doesn't like to clash with the players. It's all the opposite. He likes to keep distance.

7:04John Obi Mikel:Okay, really. So Diego Simeone or Joseph Mourinho, who would you want to get into a fistfight with? Both. I can break them down very easily. There is no fear. The truth is that I don't know. Mourinho, Conte, or Simeone. I don't know. They are, I don't know. I don't see it as a fight. Mourinho is more like a bully. Cholo is like, I will choose Cholo to fight. I would love to fight with Cholo. I love that. I love that, Diego. You were, I loved watching you. we all did in the Premier League you had a lot of battles with a lot of defenders Kacelny, Gabriel at Arsenal Vertonghen at Tottenham who got the best out of you?

7:55which team did you like playing against more than any other in the Premier League? which team got the best out of Diego Costa? I think everyone normally I always play with good matches but defenders like that I used to like the match against Tottenham because it was always a fight. Not just with me, but with everyone. It was a match where in the end, I don't know what happened, there was always a fight on the pitch. And in the end, I was always involved. Hazard, who doesn't fight with anyone, he was always there. William, who is like an angel, he was fighting too. So it was a match with a lot of fighting, but defenders from Liverpool Liverpool, Van Dijk, yes.

8:42He's a very difficult defender. The truth is that the defenders here are very strong. You have to always be very intense and ready because they kick you and bite you all the time. It's really hard.

8:55John Obi Mikel:And that match, you've just mentioned now, Tottenham, that match, 2015 it was. 2015, 16? Yeah. Stamford Bridge, Chelsea against Tottenham. Battle of the Bridge. The Battle of the Bridge, that fight. I was in the game. Your eyes was red. They were angry. You were angry. What got you so angry? Was it because it was Tottenham? We did not want them to win in Stafford Bridge? Or there was just something else that made you so angry that day in that game? When a match has started very intense with the defenders kicking you a lot, then you see the good guys with the ball from our team who didn't like to kick anyone.

9:34The other guys were coming to just play very hard. I felt like I must play also very rough. So in the end, it was a game, I don't know. They came looking to fight and mess around because in the end, we were and we are, with a lot of respect to Tottenham, we are a bigger club. Spurs is a big team, but you cannot compare Chelsea's history. At the end, we always had a lot of very good and intense games. It was a lot of fun. I used to love playing those kind of matches. The fights were part of the games.

10:09John Obi Mikel:In that game, today, there's VAR. If in that game there was VAR, you would have gotten five red cards for sure. You were kicking people, grabbing people. This is you putting... Diego, I was there with you, I see.

10:34I was going to change the way I play, but they were going straight after me. Many times I used to provoke them more, not because I used to enjoy kicking the rivals, but to make them feel nervous so they can play my game. When somebody's angry, you lose control during the game. But it was never with a bad intention. Score more with the college-branded Venmo debit card and earn up to 5 % cash back with Venmo Stash. Got paid back? With the Venmo debit card, you can instantly access your balance and spend on what you want, like game day snacks, gear, tickets, and more. The more you do, the more cash back you can earn.

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11:40Tension or with violence. Normally, I didn't elbow anyone. I never play in a level of violence. I play strong, but if someone came after me, I will respond. But I was never in bad intention.

11:54John Obi Mikel:Betwinner, home of true winners. We talked, Diego, on this podcast a lot about the king of Africa, DDA Drogba. You replaced him at Chelsea. What kind of personality do you have, Diego? Did you feel pressure following on from DDA? Or did you feel, I will show that I'm the main man, that I'm the guy to continue this line of great strikers playing for Chelsea Football Club? When I signed for Chelsea, it was only me, in theory, the only striker. And then Didier Drogba signed again. He came back. I knew Didier is God. I look up to him. I always like him. I always like watching really good strikers.

12:41And Didier was always one of the best in the world. So I came to Chelsea and Didier came back too. It was good. But I said, I'm in trouble. because Didier, he is an idol. He is one of the greatest in the club's history. But he came a little bit older. He was not going to change anything. Then Mourinho told me to, don't worry, he's coming to be part of the squad, but if I don't score the goals I should, Didier is going to play 100%. But he was someone I love watching in training. I watch him from afar. I watch his movements, the way he controls, the way he'll knock down defenders, of defeat. I always like to learn from the good guys.

13:26And luckily, I was lucky enough to start scoring a lot of goals. And Didier, from the very first minute, he was always treating me well. Because there are people who don't understand their moment. Didier knows how great he is. I hope we can have another player like him. That would be very good for Chelsea. but there is not a greater player like Didier Drogba in his position. Well, there is Sola too, but that will tell you how I see it. I don't know about older players from the past. Didier, from the first minute, he was always treating me well with respect, with affection. I didn't see jealousy in any moment.

14:08With his history, he could be envious and wanting to play. and with me from the first minute, he was always a person who treated me well and luckily I was scoring goals. He was more relaxed. He didn't have to work so hard to take my place.

14:24John Obi Mikel:The style both of you played, you and Didier Drogba, you guys are very, very physical kind of players. Very physical. You guys bully people and bully defenders. That's the way you played. Which striker today in the Premier League or do you think plays exactly more, play same style as you and Didier Drogba in the Premier League? But Haaland, no? Play like you? Oh, yes. Haaland. It's true. Haaland is more speed. His movements, but Brian Mbemu goes more for the challenge. He can hold more. Haaland is very strong. But Haaland, the way his team plays, he has a lot of space so he can run. In our case, we used to look more for the individual challenges and to hold more for the ball.

15:16Haaland, in this moment, is the best striker in the world, in my opinion. For me, the striker not many people talk about enough, and he's like a beast, is Harry Kane. Every year he scores a lot of goals, and he does his job, but he's just started to win trophies right now. but he's a striker who can score goals with right, left foot, headers, free kicks. For me, he's very complete. I think the press and the social media world doesn't give enough credit for his merits. So, in over Haaland? Haaland scores goals in every game. He's good and he wins trophies. That's the difference. If Haaland scores goals and wins trophies, he's always going to be better.

16:04if Harry Kane start winning trophies like now so the battle is going to be more equal because scoring goals without title is not the same what about João Pedro because we come back to Chelsea a Brazilian new to the club John we've liked what he's done Diego at the start he looks like he's settled in has he got what it takes to be Chelsea's number nine and Brazil's number nine for the World Cup next year bueno Pedro I watch Pedro's matches when he's signed in the summer during the Club World Cup in the USA. He's a player who can play the role of number 9 or number 10. I think his best version is going to be having someone next to him because he's a striker, can influence a lot.

16:51He has great technique, he knows how to finish, he's very good. So when they have someone who is there holding the ball, he can have a little bit more freedom. That's where he will play his best. or he plays like a number nine, but he's strong and knows how to hold the ball. He needs to play in front of the goal and not in his back. That's my opinion.

17:14John Obi Mikel:A few words about our proud sponsors. Betwinner is your reliable partner in the world of sports betting. Enjoy placing bets on any sports event with great odds and maximum convenience. Visit betwinner.com now. A lot of Brazilian players come to the Premier League. this question i've been longing to ask it a long time but they stay for short period why is that i know you obviously you played for spain we will ask you that question later why do you think brazilian players most especially they come to the premier superstars they come but they come for short period two three four two three years and then they disappear why do you think that happens, is it because of the intensity of the Premier League or do you think it's because of the lifestyle of the Brazilian players?

18:05John Obi Mikel:I know you guys like to enjoy your life. Do you think that is the reason why the Brazilian superstars, they come for only a short period of time in the Premier League?

18:17The intensity in the Premier League is very different from the Brazilian League and often they come here at a very young age. I was in Brazil recently, and I saw what it is. When you are in Brazil and you are playing well and you are young, they make you like a superstar already. Then people look at you like big stars. So when you come to the Premier League or any other league abroad, you are just a normal player. Even if you are a star in Brazil and you are a big prospect when a big club buys you, some players struggle to gain confidence. And if you have the trust from the manager and teammates, the performance can improve.

18:56If you don't feel comfortable, it's going to be very difficult. So I think it's a bit of mentality. If you know that you are going to play for a very big club with a lot of good players, then the competition is always going to be there. So you cannot give up in any moment. And that can be difficult for a Brazilian when things don't go well at first. they feel down, they start to remember that in Brazil they were big stars and here they are just another normal player. Then they start to have shadows that makes them feel down because in the end, if you are patient, you know there is time for everything.

19:35Things can work out. So I think it's a mental issue many times. It's interesting there, Diego, because John talks about short shelf life for Brazilian players. You were here three years, but you did well. You settled into the culture. You settled into the Premier League. You scored goals. You won titles. And then you were gone. I've read that you and Antonio Conte, I've also read that you were told you have to leave the club by text message. What is the truth? Tell the Chelsea fans. Did you want to leave? Did Conte force you out? What is the true story of your Chelsea exit? The truth is, it all begins at the start of the third season, when Conte arrived.

20:23I had an offer to return to Spain. I told him that I wanted to go back to Spain, and he said to me, how could you let him go if he didn't have another striker? I told him that I'm not the sporting director of the club. We have to speak with the club. But the intention was to return to Spain. At that time, I was a little sad. I don't know. The opportunity to go back to Spain came up, and I thought about leaving. At the end, the things didn't work out, so we spoke again before the start of the new season. I asked him if he still wanted me to stay because I have other offers in the Premier League.

21:06because if the coach doesn't want me, I had to look for somewhere else to play. And in the end, he said to me, don't worry, we are fine, let's play together. Okay. The league started, I scored goals, I was Chelsea top scorer, we won the league that year, everything was perfect. But you know, when you feel like something is not right, what I had initially said in preseason, I felt like he had something inside him, that he was angry. Then I went on.

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22:37Got your happy price, Priceline. On holiday, I had a chance to renew with Chelsea, but then I sent a text message to Conte. Boss, I want to know if you will count on me next season. How is it going to be? And he replied to me via text message too. Diego, thank you very much for everything you have done, but I'm not counting on you. In the end, I knew it, because he had something inside, because it's not normal for a coach not to count on a player who was his team's top scorer, who helped him along with his teammates to win the Premier League, and he wait for a moment like that. He had the fans on his side too, because the fans always also loved me so much.