Diego Costa has claimed that life at Chelsea is more enjoyable after Jose Mourinho left the club.
Mourinho was sacked in December 2015 by Roman Abramovich for the second time, after a disastrous attempt to defend their Premier League title.
Costa concedes that “managers have to be the boss”, but stated that he prefers the “frendlier” Antonio Conte, who took over last summer.
He told Chelsea TV: “I think it’s really important for managers to be liked by his players because ultimately on the pitch, those players will give everything for their manager.
“We have had a change of manager, he is working us hard, but people like him, which is important for everyone connected to the club because it creates a good atmosphere. Sometimes you have managers that have to be the boss, but this manager is a bit friendlier and there is closeness there.
“It is really important to have that at your workplace for you to come in and feel happy. You need a good atmosphere and a bit of fun.
“When a game comes around, that’s the time to be serious. During the week the training sessions are serious, but away from there, you have to relax and switch off.
“We are a family, we spend so much time together, we have to do things that bring us closer together because if not, everything will be too regimented, too professional and I don’t like that, it’s not for me.”
Chelsea are on a 13-match winning run, ahead of their visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.
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