Diego Costa has spoken of his delight at receiving a warm reception from Chelsea fans on his return to Stamford Bridge, insisting his exit was down to former manager Antonio Conte and not for a lack of love for the club.
Costa spent three seasons in west London and played a starring role in two Premier League title wins, scoring 59 goals in 120 games for Chelsea before signing for Atletico Madrid again after a fall-out with Conte.
He made his first return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday with new side Wolves on Saturday, falling to a 3-0 defeat at his former club. He was cheered and applauded by home fans prior to kick-off and after he was substituted.
Speaking to ESPN post-match, Costa revealed he was relieved that Chelsea supporters remember him fondly, pointing the finger at ex-Blues boss Conte for his departure at the end of 2017.
“It was special,” Costa said of his reception. “Feeling that you did your job when you were here and then leaving with good memories.
“Receiving this affection from the Chelsea fans. I’ve always had affection. I have nothing to complain about the Chelsea fans. When I was here, they always treated me well.
Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey and Toby Cudworth bring you a brand new episode of Talking Transfers. The team discuss Chelsea’s interest in Declan Rice, Christopher Nkunku and Josko Gvardiol, while there are also updates on Cristiano Ronaldo, Donny van de Beek and more. Available on all audio platforms.
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Speaking on his exit from the club, Costa added: “It wasn’t the fans. It was with that coach [Conte]. I had a very good relationship with the Chelsea fans. I was a champion! It was in the year that we won the second title. He didn’t count on me as much and I couldn’t stay.
“The affection I received today shows that I was never fighting with the fans. But I had to leave. It wasn’t my issue.
“It was because of the coach at that moment. Today is proof that the crowd has always been by my side and had affection for me.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has been granted permission to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window, though as was the case in the summer, very few European clubs are interested in taking him on. However, Inter Miami will offer him a route out of Old Trafford in the coming months. (DailyStar)
Arsenal are set to miss out on Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli, who will stay at Juventus and commit to them in the long term once his loan from Sassuolo becomes permanent next summer. (Football.London)
Tammy Abraham has left the door ajar regarding a potential return to Chelsea one day, insisting ‘you never know the future’ when quizzed about his £70.3m buyback clause. (Official)
From a former Chelsea striker to a present one, Paris Saint-Germain have denied claims that they are targeting a move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while the Blues similarly have played down talk of an exit so soon into his Stamford Bridge career. (CBS)
Barcelona could throw a spanner in the works over Manchester United’s plans to hand Diogo Dalot a new contract, with the Blaugrana interested in adding him to their ranks. (Sport)
Celta Vigo left-back Javi Galan is also wanted by Barcelona as a replacement for the ageing Jordi Alba. (Fichajes)
Liverpool have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Declan Rice from West Ham and could make their move for the midfielder next summer. The Reds have also been targeting England teammate JudeBellingham. (Football Insider)
Liverpool had attempted to bolster their midfield ranks this past summer, but missed out on the signing of long-term target Yves Bissouma to Tottenham. (The Athletic)
Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey and Toby Cudworth bring you a brand new episode of Talking Transfers. The team discuss Chelsea’s interest in Declan Rice, Christopher Nkunku and Josko Gvardiol, while there are also updates on Cristiano Ronaldo, Donny van de Beek and more. Available on all audio platforms.
If you can’t see the podcast embed, click here to download the episode in full!
Juventus will face rival interest from Newcastle United for the signature of Barcelona forward Memphis Depay in the January transfer window. (Sport)
Adrien Rabiot could rejoin Paris Saint-Germain next summer once his contract with Juventus expires, and the French champions are already working behind the scenes on making a reunion happen. (Fichajes)
Manchester City are ready to rival Liverpool with an audacious move for Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala, despite the youngster keen to remain with the German champions. (Calciomercato)
Palmeiras’ 16-year-old sensation Endrick could cost over €70m once he becomes eligible to leave the club in 2024. Barcelona and Real Madrid are leading the chase for his signature. (Mundo Deportivo)
Paris Saint-Germain dropped points in Ligue 1 for only the second time this season after failing to find a way through against a resilient Reims on Saturday night.
PSG were without Lionel Messi and a handful of others because of injury, while coach Christophe Galtier also opted to start without Neymar or Achraf Hakimi.
Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf pulled off a flying save to deny Fabian Ruiz in the early exchanges. But while it was PSG who unsurprisingly dominated possession, they were severely outgunned in attack by the hosts, who managed 24 attempts on goal in total.
But the quality in front of goal from both sides was ultimately lacking. Between them, there were only seven shots on target across the 90 minutes.
PSG were put on the backfoot late in the first half in bizarre circumstances when Sergio Ramos was booked twice in one minute. The veteran defender was cautioned but took exception to it and talked his way immediately back into the referee’s notebook and off the pitch.
There was no breakthrough in the second half, with PSG unable to muster the necessary quality and Reims not managing to make their player advantage count.
Even a man down for more than half the game, PSG will see this as two points lost. Reims, who had won only one game in their previous nine in Ligue 1 so far this season, would have happily taken a draw before kick-off, but may also see it as an opportunity missed in the circumstances.
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The difference between Orlando City’s form either side of the US Open Cup final is as clear as night and day.
Before their landmark clash with the Sacramento Republic, the Lions enjoyed a four-match winning run that included triumphs over Concacaf Champions League winners Seattle Sounders and reigning MLS Cup champions NYCFC.
But since lifting their first-ever trophy as an MLS club, Orlando have fallen to four defeats in five matches, with their only victory coming against Toronto FC, who are 13th in the Eastern Conference.
“My answer would be that it’s natural that after that high moment, a reaction could happen,” head coach Oscar Pareja responded when asked about a post-Open Cup hangover. “It’s difficult for me to analyze it that way.”
Hangover or not, Orlando have a job to do.
Pareja’s side head into Decision Day eighth in the East, a point behind FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew in the final two MLS Cup Playoffs spots.
However, Orlando have their destiny in their own hands with their final regular-season game coming at home to the Crew. The formula is simple: win and in.
“We’re trying just to focus and trying to concentrate because we need to win,” Pareja continued. “This group needs and deserves to be in the playoffs for what they have achieved during the year. But we have to value that by winning against a good rival. If we don’t do it, then we don’t deserve to be in it.”
As Orlando’s top scorer with 11 goals, Austrian striker Ercan Kara will be key to their Decision Day hopes and is well aware of the levels required to beat a Crew side that have lost just one of their last 11 matches.
“We know the importance of the game,” he said. “We need to give more than 100 percent and we have only one decision. That’s to win it.”
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Real Madrid returned to winning ways in La Liga thanks to Eder Militao’s early header against Getafe, marking a functional performance from the reigning Spanish and European champions without every really getting into a high gear against their city neighbours.
Los Blancos had suffered a shock defeat in this fixture last season but needed only three minutes to take the lead this time. Militao rose highest at the near post from a Luka Modric corner, flicking his header beyond the reach of goalkeeper David Soria.
Real continued to create a number of semi-chances that didn’t particularly bother Soria, while Getafe went very close to equalising midway through the first half. Fabricio Angileri’s fierce drive narrowly flew wide of the far post, with Borja Mayoral also close to turning it in.
Despite their overall dominance, the visitors weren’t as clinical as Carlo Ancelotti would have like. But they caught a clear sight of goal in the closing stages of the first half when Federico Valverde crossed to an unmarked Rodrygo, whose header was well held by Soria.
Still before half-time, Vinicius Junior thought he had won a penalty when he was fouled by Luis Milla. But a second look from Antonio Miguel Lahoz on the advice of VAR saw it overturned when the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play in the build up.
Real should have doubled the lead immediately after half-time, with a melee in the Getafe area seeing efforts from Rodrygo and Luka Modric blocked either side of an Aurelien Tchouameni shot saved by Soria as the home goal led a charmed life.
Andriy Lunin made his first meaningful save not long after to deny former Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena low to his left, while Real were soon denied a goal by VAR at the other end when Rodrygo, whose chipped finish was neat and clever, was later found to be offside.
As the second half progressed there was a feeling that Real were starting to drift in the game, with clear chances drying up and mistakes in possession creeping in. Valverde did test Soria from distance that saw the ball briefly squirm loose, while the Uruguayan even tried a speculative effort from deep inside his own half that wasn’t a million miles away from hitting the target.
There was still time for substitute Marco Asensio to try his luck from distance, rippling the top of the net as it flew just over, but a single goal to nil was how it finished.
Rodrygo scored but it was disallowed / OSCAR DEL POZO CANAS/GettyImages
GK: Andriy Lunin – 6/10 – Made a good save early in the second half to preserve the lead.
RB: Dani Carvajal – 6/10 – Got forward frequently to good effect early on. That seemed to disappointingly fade later on.
CB: Eder Militao – 7/10 – Had a nightmare in this fixture last season and started in the perfect manner. Defensively sound.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – 6/10 – Good on the ball with both short and long passes. Wasn’t hugely tested.
LB: David Alaba – 6/10 – Didn’t stand out but his night was pretty comfortable overall.
CM: Luka Modric (c) – 7/10 – Inch perfect corner gave Real their early lead. CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 7/10 – Really solid presence at the base of the midfield that stopped Getafe constructing anything centrally. CM: Eduardo Camavinga – 6/10 – Decent energy but had the least direct impact on the game out of the midfield trio.
RW: Federico Valverde – 7/10 – A creative spark, but also showed his physical in setting up Rodrygo’s ultimately disallowed goal. Seemed to be the only Real player making things happen in the final quarter.
ST: Rodrygo – 7/10 – Had a header well saved and a clever chipped finish chalked off. Still made an impact but not quite his night.
LW: Vinicius Junior – 7/10 – Slow to get involved but was clearly a threat when he did manage to get on the ball.
SUB: Marco Asensio (83′ for Camavinga) – 7/10
SUB: Nacho (83′ for Militao) – 5/10
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti – 6/10 – Delayed making any changes until late on because his side were leading. But it was risky because it was only a narrow lead and Real were losing tempo as the game wore on.
Player of the match – Federico Valverde
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