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Spain coach Julen Lopetegui is happy that Diego Costa is again playing a leading role for Chelsea but played down the significance of the striker's reported bust-up with Blues coach Antonio Conte. Costa had trained away from his teammates for three days and missed Chelsea's away game at Leicester City on Jan. 14 amid reports of a row with a fitness coach about a back injury and speculation that the striker had received a lucrative offer from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian. However, the Spain international started and scored in a 2-0 home triumph over Hull City on Jan. 22 after returning to the squad. Lopetegui told Cadena Ser radio: "It didn't reach the point of 'blood in the river' as was talked about. "If everything that happened in dressing rooms got out, sometimes many people would be scared. It's nothing -- he is back playing again and scoring goals, which is the most important thing for him and for his team." The 28-year-old, who came on as a substitute in Chelsea's 4-0 triumph over Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday, is joint top of the Premier League scoring charts with 15 goals. Costa missed Spain's last two games of 2016, a 4-0 triumph over FYR Macedonia in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Nov. 12 and a 2-2 draw at England in an international friendly three days later, due to a groin injury. The Brazil-born player has scored four goals in 14 appearances for Spain since making his national team debut in March 2014.
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