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Pundit backs Antonio Conte over Diego Costa spat: Transfer unlikely after apology
CHELSEA can expect an apology from Diego Costa over his spat with Antonio Conte before moving on from the incident, believes Martin Keown.
Jermaine Jenas: Lukaku could replace Costa at Chelsea
Chelsea star Diego Costa has been dropped from today’s match day squad to face Leicester after his bust-up with Conte.
Express Sport understands an £80million offer from the Chinese Super League could convince Chelsea offload their star striker.
But former Arsenal player Keown things the incident will blow over once Costa apologises.
The manager is handling it in the correct way
“(Conte) is reasserting himself as to who is the manager,” Keown told Football Focus.
“Costa has football utopia at the moment. Top of the league, scoring great goals every week, great performances. He’s found his form again. What is wrong in his life?
“And suddenly he falls out with his manager.
“I think (Conte) has brought him to heel. He sits him out of this one and he’ll come back quietly with an apology.”
Chelsea striker Diego Costa will not play against Leicester today
Martin Keown believes Chelsea striker Costa will apologise
Asked if the incident could upset Chelsea’s title chances, Keown added: “I don’t think it can. He’s a quality player that you don’t want to be without, that’s for sure.
“The manager is handling it in the correct way. The player surely will see sense.
“They tell me he’s a bit like this, he’ll go off on one and then come back and think ‘what was the problem’?
“It’s a very difficult dressing room there at Chelsea ad the manager has done very well. He’s just asserting himself a bit.”
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