Very true. Remember The Drog getting stick at home games. He realised, changed and became such a great striker.

Am sure senior players have also (and did with The Drog) had a word.

It would also been a high wake up having the home crowd on your back as you say happened

I'm not sure about that. He seemed to think it was the way to go for 2 whole seasons.

I know Costa was always a volatile player but Jose has that siege mentality and he probably instructed him to make himself a nuisance without getting a red which contributed to what we saw. Conte probably tells him to apply himself differently.

I think this system helps him a lot as well because he's not isolated up front and dealing with 2 strong CBs. He already had 4 yellow cards before we changed the system and none since then.

It often takes time to adapt to working in a new country more so when you spent your adult life living in one country and then move to a totally different country (he spent some time in Portugal I think but I think its not such a big difference then you would find between Spain and England)

Blaming Jose and praising Conte is a very easy route to go down.

Also we have new rules regarding what how far players can go when dealing with ref's which has mean he has had to change his attitude.

In the past Costa has always had to "fight" he show how good of a player he was. Until the last season at Athletico he was not really the main man before

As a new "boy" during his first season and the media's simplistic approach to pigeonholing players he prob found himself pushed into acting a certain way, If everyone tells you that your this type of person its very easy to follow in playing that role, more so when your dealing with working in a utterly alien envoument and dealing with all the feelings that brings

This is the first time he has had a third season in a row at a club so really for the first time in his career is settled and has a home.

He still has the same fight but IMO after finding a home he has naturally leaned to channel it better,

I think he has just finally settled down

There was that incident against Leicester a couple of months back where once the game was as good as won Costa seemed quite keen to be subbed (possibly so he wouldn't pick up a yellow card and miss the next game against United). Conte didn't indulge him and kept him on to the end. I certainly think Conte's no nonsense management approach has been a big factor in Costa concentrating more on what he should be and not getting involved as much in the silly off the ball stuff.

I not sure any manager of a top team would have indulged him, Even Harry did not take Di Cannio off when he was sulking because the ref was not giving him decisions

"Harry"?

Is this the same Harry that said at the weekend, that no member of chelsea's team would get into the Spurs team. Not one!

Chelsea starting lineup (3-4-3):
Thibaut Courtois | Gary Cahill (c), David Luiz, César Azpilicueta | Marcos Alonso, Cesc Fàbregas, N'Golo Kanté, Victor Moses | Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Pedro

Substitutes from: Asmir Begović, Branislav Ivanović, Ola Aina, Nathaniel Chalobah, Oscar, Willian, Michy Batshuayi.

No Matic, presumably injured ? I'm worried now, it's time for Fabregas to step up and show he's worth a place otherwise we're sunk.

Oh Gary!

So frustrating. We should've capitalised on City's defensive lapses earlier on. They've definitely grown into the game. Aguero could've scored a couple. Wish we were making those sort of chances for Costa

No complaints, a goal for Man City always seemed coming. Same as the first half last week, we appear to have surrendered the midfield. As I feared Fabregas is not picking up players, I would bring on Oscar to nullify De Bruyne.
David Luiz has been outstanding though, even if he was lucky to get away with that obvious obstruction.

Oh well, Fabregas to Costa and it's a goal. Shows what I know.

Another Fab assist and Costa goal 😍

Willian!

How many goals has Costa been involved now? Lovely finish from Willian

Weeeeeeee

2 off!

Brilliant turnaround in the second half.

Do we accept that we are favourites now? At the very least i don't think Man City are as great as they were expected to be this season. Without signing a defender or 2 in January they will continue to drop points quite often....

City took defeat well then

I accepted that we were favourites after our win at Southampton and said so but was shot down. City's defence is never going to win a title.

Stones hooked. Two players sent off. City have imploded on the biggest stage

I missed the match and will need to catch up with the highlights but overall pleased with the result! Definitely favourites now after getting 6 points from Spurs and City.

Shame how we missed out on Stones, isn't it.

Been on the news that Chelsea FC have made a formal apology to Gary Johnson for stopping him from speaking out about a football scout sexually abusing him.

They paid him off with £50,000, but now accept that the confidentiality clause was inappropriate.

It will be interesting to see how that story develops because the club didn't inform the FA/PFA about Johnson's allegations at the time and that's breaking the rules. There will be a heavy sanction even if the club have admitted they should've gone about things in a different manner