Diego Costa takes a swipe at his ex boss Conte on his return to Stamford Bridge

Diego Costa has taken a swipe at his former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, blaming the Italian for his exit from Stamford Bridge.

Costa returned to his former club on Saturday as he made his first start for Wolves, who the Spaniard joined last month.

The striker scored 59 goals in 120 games for the Blues across three seasons, while he also won two Premier League titles with the club.

However, he left Chelsea in 2017 in acriminous circumstances, returning to Atletico Madrid after falling out with the west London side's then-boss Conte.

During Saturday's game he received a standing ovation from the Chelsea fans when he was substituted in the second half.

And, reflecting on that moment after the game, Costa couldn't resist throwing a dig at his former manager at Stamford Bridge.

'I've never had a problem with the fans,' he told reporters after the game.

'My problem was not with the crowd, it was with that coach. I left in bad terms with that manager, I left a champion for the second time, and he didn't count on me.

'That was nothing I could do. I had to leave. Today showed that I did not leave on bad terms with the fans.

'It's very special. It's the feeling that in the time that you spent here, you did good work and left good memories.

'Chelsea fans always treated me very well. I was always surprised by the way they treated me. It's satisfying.'

When Costa was subbed off, Blues fans started singing the 34-year-old's name, and he walked around the perimeter of the pitch after coming off, a route which took him right in front of the diehard Chelsea fans in the Matthew Harding Stand, who cheered loudly for him.

The home side beat Costa's new club 3-0 thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja.