Chelsea striker Diego Costa insists there was nothing in his reported January row with head coach Antonio Conte and maintains he and his Stamford Bridge colleagues are “on the same page”.

Costa netted his 17th Premier League goal of the season in Monday’s 2-1 victory at West Ham that moved Conte’s men 10 points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table

On that occasion, Costa gesticulated during his goal celebration to mock ongoing discussion over his future and he told ESPN Brasil suggestions he wanted to leave Chelsea were a work of media fiction.

“It was nothing,” Costa said. “People here [in England] make up a lot of stuff. Things happen, but I’m showing now that there’s nothing to it.

“I’m playing and scoring goals, and that’s the important thing. Everyone knows that anything I say has bigger repercussions than what it was.

“The manager is someone who works us really hard in training. He’s got his personality just like I’ve got mine and others have theirs, but the important thing is to show your personality in a way that benefits the team.

“This is what’s happening. Everyone is on the same page and that’s the way we have to go.”