Antonio Conte branded questions regarding Diego Costa’s future at Chelsea in the wake of Saturday evening's victory over Leicester City as 'disrespectful', and refused to comment on speculation surrounding the forward.

The Chelsea manager played a straight bat when asked about Costa’s absence from Premier League leaders’ squad for the game at the King Power Stadium, explaining he had suffered a pain in his back in training and denying any knowledge of interest from Chinese clubs in his leading scorer.

Instead he attempted to shift the focus on to a significant victory for his side who, in their first league fixture after defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, shrugged aside Costa’s absence to record an impressive 3-0 victory through two goals from wing-back Marcos Alonso and a third from Spanish forward Pedro.

“If you want to know the truth, I am ready to tell the truth,” said Conte when asked about Costa. “The truth is that on Tuesday during the training session, Diego stopped because he felt a pain in his back and from that moment he didn’t train during the week and for this reason today he wasn’t available to come with the squad.

“I read a lot of speculation about this topic, I can tell you if there are the problems – and I repeat, if there are problems – I am used in my career to solving the problems in the changing room, not outside in the press conference. I repeat if.”

When asked when he would be fit to play again, Costa replied: “I don’t know, it is always very difficult –I don’t have his pain, it is important to understand when he recovers from his pain.”

Costa had attempted to inject some light relief at the start of his press conference by taking a bite from a reporter’s slice of cake but he was in no mood to shed any light on his reported training-ground row with Costa – or the interest of Chinese clubs in the Premier League’s joint-leading scorer. “The club did not inform me about this and for this reason it can be only speculation,” he said on the latter.

Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Kasper Schmeichel - 6 The Leicester goalkeeper could do little with the three goals as he was left exposed by his defence. EPA Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Wes Morgan - 5 The Leicester captain was a solid unit but looked decidedly uncomfortable on the right of a defensive trio. PA Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Robert Huth - 5 Kept busy by Willian's movement before being sacrificed as his manager went to a flat back four in the second half. Getty Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Christian Fuchs - 5 Starting in a central back three, he was culpable of some rash decisions that cost his team. AFP/Getty Images Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Marc Albrighton - 6 Struggled with the change of shape, but still put in some teasing, testing crosses. Getty Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Danny Drinkwater - 6 Feisty in the tackle, his range of passing wasn't up to its usual standard. Getty Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Wilfred Ndidi - 7 Showed glimpses of talent on his home debut, the young midfielder faded as Chelsea took control in the second half. AFP/Getty Images Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Nampalys Mendy - 6 Tidy in possession, but those moments were few and far between as the visitors dominated. EPA Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Ben Chilwell - 6 The young wing-back demonstrated great desire to get up and down the left, but was frustrated by Moses. REUTERS Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Jamie Vardy - 5 A night to forget for the striker who never got in the game despite his willingness to chase loose balls and lost causes. Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Ahmed Musa - 5 Utilised his pace early in proceedings, but ran out of steam and was eventually subbed. Getty Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Thibaut Courtois - 7 Making a vital block to deny Musa in the first minute was as tough as his evening got. EPA Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta - 6 Was caught out of position early on, but recovered to help his side to a deserved clean sheet. PA Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings David Luiz - 7 Another decent defensive display. He was alert enough to leave an Albrighton cross when an own-goal looked inevitable. Getty Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Gary Cahill - 6 With little to concern him at the back, the defender tried his luck with an acrobatic overhead kick at the other end. PA Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Victor Moses - 7 Enjoyed his touchline battle with Chilwell, his crossing from the right is improving each week. Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings N'Golo Kante - 8 Returned to his old club and showed them what they still miss. Relentless with and without the ball. REUTERS Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Nemanja Natic - 8 The Serbian was pivotal in keeping play ticking over in midfield as Chelsea dominated possession. REUTERS Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Marcos Alonso - 9 An unlikely two-goal hero, the energetic Spaniard only missed out on a hat-trick by a few inches late on. Getty Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Willian - 7 Replaced the absent Costa and contributed to the attacking cause. Showed awareness to set up Pedro's goal. AFP/Getty Images Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Eden Hazard - 8 Remained cool in the box to pick out Alonso early on. Rarely wasted a pass. PA Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings Pedro - 8 Much improved from the Tottenham defeat, the Spaniard capped his display with his side's third. Getty

Nor would he discuss Costa’s future when the question was put to him. “Today I can’t be concerned about this because today my players showed me a great performance, great team spirit,” responded the Italian, who said that it was disrespectful to be talking about Costa and not those players who had earned Chelsea a victory that restored their seven-point lead at the Premier League summit. “It is a lack of respect for the other players for our performance,” he said, adding: “We start to think, ‘If an offer arrives’ [but] for me I don’t like to answer this type of question – if, if... Now there is this victory and we must enjoy it.

“We started this game with great pressure after Tottenham’s victory and Arsenal’s victory and we had to show good experience to manage this situation because we’ve just started the second part of the season and in every game it will be important to take points.”

Costa's future remains unclear (Getty)

The Costa question aside, this was an impressive statement from Chelsea, who had a list of impressive performers led by Alonso and midfielders Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante, who was warmly applauded by the home supporters on his return to the King Power.