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Football London
Football London
Sport
Jake Stokes

Former Chelsea striker rips into Antonio Conte as Tottenham boss slammed for Diego Costa lie

Michy Batshuayi has launched an attack on Antonio Conte for the treatment he received under the Italian's stewardship at Chelsea. The 28-year-old striker joined the west Londoners just days into the former Blues boss' tenure and he was promised a starring role alongside Diego Costa.

However, despite the Tottenham boss' promise to operate a two-man strike force, Batshuayi played second-fiddle to the Spaniard and was often relegated to the bench. He struggled to pick up any momentum, featuring just 53 times for Chelsea during Conte's reign where he averaged only 33.4 minutes a game.

And, after having only just left the Blues on a permanent move this summer after several loans, Batshuayi has accused Conte of fooling him into join the west Londoners in 2016. The Belgian was one of the Italian's first signings at Chelsea and reportedly went to great lengths to sign the striker he would later snub.

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Speaking to Sport magazine, Batshuayi said: "Conte was constantly contradicting himself. To start with my arrival, he called me and explained his project.

"He wanted me to play in a two-man frontline alongside Diego Costa. Did I believe that? Of course, because Conte has played with two attackers all his career. Except at Chelsea with me. I do not understand. The truth is that I have been fooled far too often."

With Batshuayi on the sidelines during his time at Chelsea, Stamford Bridge staged one of the greatest strikers in the club's - and Premier League's - history. While the Belgian was on the bench, Costa guided the Blues to two Premier League titles and a League Cup.

He scored 59 goals in 120 games for the west Londoners, providing 23 assists in the meantime too. However, despite Costa's cult-hero status, it was Batshuayi who scored the Premier League title winning goal against West Bromwich Albion.

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