Chelsea what ifs: The Diego Costa and Antonio Conte bust up no more

Diego Costa and Antonio Conte’s bust up still reverberates through the fan base. What if Chelsea had avoided the whole ordeal?

The Diego Costa and Antonio Conte bust up has entered an almost mythical realm for Chelsea fans. The facts have been distorted over and over by those who should know better and many do not even remember what really happened as it has been rewritten so many times to suit certain sides.

The fact is that Costa tried to force a move to China halfway through a Premier League title push. Conte only wanted dedicated players and that simply was not Costa. Regardless of how things may have changed between then and that summer, Conte’s infamous text to Costa did not tell him anything that he did not already know and want. Costa went AWOL to Brazil, throwing his toys out the pram and blaming Conte for forcing him out of a club he wanted out of already.

That is not to absolve Conte of blame for how it was handled. He could have done it more privately than he had done. But what if the two were able to settle their differences and push forward together? Would 2017/2018 have been any different?

Assume the China stuff still happened, but in the intervening months the Premier League title brings Costa and Conte closer together. Costa no longer wants the move to China (which may be true in real life, but the Atletico Madrid transfer implies he wanted a move regardless). Conte and Costa sit down and despite the wavering by the Spanish striker, Conte gives him a chance the following season to earn everything back.

Given Alvaro Morata’s hot streak to start the season in reality, Costa does not change a great deal for that first half of the season. The Blues still manage to snap around Manchester City and Manchester United that season without falling too far off.

The main difference comes from the back half of the season. When Morata faced his injury in real life, he fell to pieces form wise. Conte rushed him back and it was never the same. Costa, despite being somewhat injury prone himself, avoids those same pitfalls. The January that was full of draws that basically derailed the season becomes a January of wins with Costa leading the line.

Chelsea is even able to overcome Barcelona in the two legged tie with Costa up top. The FA Cup campaign continues as it did in real life and Chelsea not only bypass Arsenal in the League Cup but narrowly defeat Manchester City in the final.

It is after that when things begin to unwind. Costa and Conte came to a gentleman’s agreement, but the striker still wants a return to Atletico Madrid. Like the season before, he begins to force for a move the coming summer. Conte does not abide by this and promptly removes him from the squad around March. More often than not, it is Eden Hazard leading the line in his stead.

This does not derail the campaign, but it does cause it to stagnate. Chelsea comfortably finishes third and still wins the FA Cup, but the fall in the Champions League semifinals. Costa is sold for a much higher price than he fetched in reality as Conte is given his third season. The hunt for a new striker begins after Morata transferred to Juventus from Real Madrid and Romelu Lukaku went to Manchester United much as he did in real life.

What other what ifs would you like to see? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!