"Hi, Diego [Costa]," Antonio Conte began a text message. "I hope you are well," the then Chelsea Manager enquired before following up with appreciation "Thanks for the season we spent together."

There was no news in this. After all, a coach acknowledging the input of his players in an energy sapping season was important. But there were some words at the latter part of the text message that would have Stamford Bridge reverberate.

"Good luck for the next year but you [Diego Costa] are not in my plan,” Conte concluded. These words roared eyeballs. Diego Costa had an incredible first season under Jose Mourinho, a less incredible season for Conte's title-winning team, but still managed a few respectable performances.

Many pundits claimed he was the best striker Chelsea had signed since the exit of Didier Drogba. The exit door message for such an important player was expected to damage Chelsea extremely, and it sure did. Conte ended the following season with just FA Cup medal, and that wasn't enough to save his job.

He followed Costa out. Many claim his relationship with the players deteriorated to the extent that, most of the boys were reluctant to work with him. The dressing room was in shambles and Marina Granovskaia had a job on her hands. She replaced Conte; the man Chelsea fans would never forgive for forcing Costa out of the club with Maurizio Sarri, a coach who had won no trophy in his career.

A first year at the Stamford Bridge dugout for the Italian would result in European trophy - the Europa League, albeit unconvincing in the eyes of the Blues family.

Sarri's excellent days at Napoli, coupled with his first major managerial medal won with Chelsea and the 'exciting Sarri Ball' played, meant that he had become a wanted man.

If Roman Abramovich and Marina Granovskaia were unconvinced, Juventus were not. The Old Lady wanted him as Massimiliano Allegri's replacement. With zero job security at Chelsea, Sarri returned to his native country.

A section of the six times Premier League champions were unhappy with the ship in and out of managers, but, the powerful woman, Marina Granovskaia, whom many have come to love, knew how to get everyone to her path.

She stood firm and rubber-stamped the return of club legend, Frank Lampard as coach. To lead the team he led in that faithful night in Munich to lift the Champions League trophy. A team he rose to the occasion many times to drag them out difficult situations when it mattered most.

Lampard's first managerial job saw him reach the play-offs of the Championship with Derby County, losing out on a Premier League ticket to Aston Villa.

Roman and Maria had seen enough to be convinced he would come good. They engineered a return which will forever be in the good books of die-hard Blue fans.

Thanks to Marina, Lampard never disappointed. First time out in the Premier League, he led a young team to finish in the top four and secure Champions League football. He also guided to the FA Cup final, which they lost to Arsenal.

One area Marina has shown prowess is her negotiation powers. Chelsea were noted for spending huge sums on players and commanding smaller selling fees for players.

Under the leadership of the Russian-Canadian, the Blues have come good in the market. To put this into perspective, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohammed Salah after struggling to impress were sold for pittance, but have become world-beaters at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.

But, even when Diego Costa was forced through the door, Atletico Madrid paid €65m. The figures were never secured in the kitty of Chelsea since Roman took over in early 2000. Many had claimed Abramovich and his sporting director, Michael Emenalo were soft in the market.

In the absence of the duo, Marina has been the power and the glory with a principle of a soft touch no more. Instead, utterly determined to pay the right price, or simply walk away from the table.

Marina has climbed success like a moving clock, she was sworn onto the club’s board, and in 2017 brokered a deal with Nike worth £60m–a- year shirt sponsorship deal that runs until 2023.

The 45-year-old has shown her fierce negotiation mettle in orchestrating some of Chelsea’s biggest transfers in recent years
The one time PA of Roman Abramovich fought off competition to sign Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa who had finished just a goal behind Lionel Messi in La Liga.

In her books, Chelsea have signed Pulisic, Ziyech, Kante, Alonso Jorginho, Kovacic, Werner and many more were signed for the more reasonable fees, whilst she sold Hazard whose contract was running out at a fee rising to nearly £130m, and £58m for Morata who was deemed surplus to requirements.

Her success at these deals, grades her as the most powerful woman in football. For Hazard's departure alone, Chelsea is benefiting about £18m after Real Madrid won the La Liga in his first season. With an additional £14m from the Los Blancos because they have qualified to play in Champions League.

She’s about to go a toe-to-toe again tagging a £31m price on French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko as against the $50m from Monaco, this deal won’t be a loss considering the defensive midfielder's struggles since becoming a Chelsea player.

Chelsea continues to be linked with a plethora of stars, among them is Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kai Havertz. The German is rated at £70m and is keen move to Stamford Bridge. Also, there are talks of the club replacing underperforming goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with Atletico Madrid star Jan Oblak. Andre Onana is also rumoured as a potential replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga.

If these deals go through, there will no doubt about the status of Marina as the football’s most powerful woman. She is a face frequently in the background, not a voice. But, her results are louder.