Diego Costa: The Long Lost Love of Blues Striker
May 19, 2012. The last kick of the ball by Didier Drogba for Chelsea. The one name that all Chelsea fan will remember throughout the history of the club. The iconic striker that bagged goals after goals to eventually lead Chelsea into the climax which all the supporters refer as "That Night in Munich". It was miraculous really. How the under card has turned the table and clinched the 'Big Ears', and for all who witness that night, without taking away any credits from other heroes, of course the name who performed the 'canon head' equaliser steal the spotlight during the evening. Unfortunately, like all tale, a farewell is inevitable. Didier Drogba left the door of the club which has raised his name from the so-called 'overpriced Ivorian who wouldn't settle with English football' into one of the most remembered name in the club and competition's history. The Ivorian left the European Champions, leaving the English club to a mere choice. Soon, it was found that Chelsea were limping off.
Chelsea were left disarray. Every strikers they owned after Didier left, all were failed to live up such big expectation. Big names of Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o. Three managers Roberto Di Mateo, Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho. 3 managers and 3 big strikers, though. However, It seemed that the goal scoring formula is completely vanished within the Blue side. The fans were left scratching their chin.
Then it was the summer of 2015. Jose Mourinho's second year of his second spell at Chelsea. The Portuguese man, committed a massive "robbery" over a Spanish capital that everyone in the Chelsea club would be grateful of. He robbed Los Rojiblancos, not only he called permanently back Thibaut Courtois from his long loan spell and signed Brazilian fullback Felipe Luis, but he also mugged Atletico for the the Spanish spearhead, Diego Costa. He didn't stop there, another shocking move to the world of football was also made that transfer window. Jose, to everyone's shock, managed to convince Cesc Fabregas to set his heart across London. The former Gunners didn't seem hesitate at all to join Chelsea despite years playing in Arsenal shirt. Didier The King? He returned in one year deal to strive with Chelsea. Major turn around in Chelsea era, but the spotlight was still all around Diego. Didier Drogba was 36 when he returned. To Didier's age it was impossible to play regularly ever again, so the job of main striker is upon Costa's shoulders.
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| Didier Drogba & Diego Costa, The Master and Apprentice (Skysport) |
Diego Costa's move to Chelsea was surrounded by some question marks. He was failed to display a mesmerising performance in World Cup 2014, following the early departure of the defending champions Spain at the group stage. Although in the same year he set up a brilliant display in Champions League and La Liga with Atletico Madrid, his failure to shine with the national team was predicted by some critics will follow him to club stage.
Critics will criticise, analyst will analyse, but the new Spanish marksman did not seem affected by all the fusses at all. He settled in so swiftly with the Chelsea team as if they have been playing together for so long. Diego made an instant impact. Together with Eden Hazard, Willian and Cesc Fabregas, he made the season so comfortable for the Blues. 38 weeks, not a single day Chelsea were able to be dethroned from the top of the league. Chelsea was once again reclaimed the throne of English Champions in 2015. First in five years, since 2010, the season when Don Carlo was in charge and Didier Drogba was the king of the Bridge.
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| Diego Costa managed to reach 50 goals for Chelsea 15 matches earlier than Didier Droba (Scopnest.com) |
With his performance starts to glitter, many began to compare these two forward icons. In terms of goals per games ratio, Diego has the advantage over Didier. He reached 50 goals for Chelsea in less than 100 games while it took 112 games for his predecessor to claimed 50. On 2016 which was arguably the most disappointing season in Roman Abramovich era, when many Chelsea players failed to perform, Diego was amongst the one who showed a fearless displays. At the end of the season, Chelsea were stranded in 10th position but throughout the season, the Spaniard's passion wasn't seem quite decreasing at all. On Champions League night, when Chelsea FC played PSG and were down 3-1 on aggregate, Costa did his magic. Received a pass, kept the ball, turned over Thiago Silva and slotted in, bottom corner. During the night when everyone else failed to live up to expectation, he didn't disappoint. Although his name was dragged to the controversy of Jose Mourinho's sacking in 2016, naming he and some others refused to play any longer for Mourinho, some fan did not seem to give to much care to the accusation. A year after, when Antonio Conte arrived, he proved to the entire club his commitment by displaying his mercurial best performance.
The season felt so special cause not only Chelsea added their fifth Premier League title to the silverware cabinet, but it was also a record breaking season for the Blues. 30 victories out of 38 games, 13 of them were consecutive wins. Chelsea won the league by the gap of 7 points ahead of London rival, Tottenham Hotspurs, and Diego played an irreplaceable performance during the season.
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| Costa with the equaliser at the Etihad (Premier League) |
His majestic influence was said by some pundits is the most influential one despite the fact that the likes of N'Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Pedro, Cesc Fabregas, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thibaut Courtois all were on their impressive performance as individuals and as a team, but it was Diego Costa who stood the tallest to lead The London Blue to the invinctus. He decided a winning 2-1 goal on the opening game of the season, at home against West Ham. During the early weeks of the season he slotted in equalisers once against Watford away (1-2) and twice against Swansea away. Though the Swansea game ended draw (2-2), without Diego, Chelsea would've suffered their first defeat of the season earlier. After Liverpool (H) and Arsenal (A) defeats, Conte switched to 3-4-3 that marked the start of their relentless run. When the run began, Costa curled over against Hull (A) and Leicester (H) to open the impressive run towards the title. 13 consecutive winners for the Blues, 4 of them were crucial 1-0 wins, in which Costa scored in 3 of them. Those games against Boro (A), West Bromwich Albion (H), and Crystal Palace (A) were so crucial that the Blues could've dropped 6 points in total if Costa were failed to notched-in the only goal of the game. Another 1-0 win one was against Sunderland (A) where Fabregas scored the only goal. The point is, in a competition like Premier League where every point matters, Chelsea were so so so lucky to have a decisive Diego Costa. His brilliant performance at the Etihad when Chelsea were 1-0 behind on Half Time, was yet again the proof of his amazing influences during big games. He chested 'the typical' Fabregas' lob pass, turned over Ottamendi and slotted into bottom corner, equalised. The run goes on and Chelsea won the fifth Premier League Title, its second under Italian Manager. To all shame, the harmonious atmosphere between him and the manager didn't last too long. The plot twisted.
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| Diego Costa's all Premier League Season Statistic in Chelsea Shirt (Premier League) |
Whatever raw he has with Antonio Conte whether it is exposed to public or not, I honestly think it's about time that Chelsea should trust to the manager. Some paper says that Diego refused to obey the diets that Antonio Conte established for the players during season holiday to keep the player's shape fine. Antonio forbid some diet to be consumed during the triumph celebration holidays. This methods was meant to keep the body shape fine when they restart the season drill. Til now, the exact reason has never been unveiled. In my opinion though, Antonio is a man who would put team's urgent matters above anything else, and a manager Antonio Conte's calibre would know best that if Diego has not been at his best all season long, the year would've not turned this fantastic. For this reason, the cause of the issues must be big enough or to crack the architecture or team that Conte's been striving to build and restore within the team's body. For whatever reason it is, Antonio must have something up his sleeves. Yes, the club has been sacking too much, and it's been just less than a year that they get rid of their most successful manager in PL history and. It is time now to back the manager.
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| Costa and Conte during triumph season (Premier League) |
Now that Diego is (almost) sure to set his feet off of London. He will be cherished amongst the greats. 2 Premier League Trophies to his name, each with 20+ score. Big figure with amazing pace, one among few who can performed a good ball keeping, turns, dribble, headings, shootings, goals, assist, all in a package. Decisive in big games, incredibly passionate, lion on the pitch and hilariously amusing outside. During his finest he was clearly top of the list. A rare breed.
What a remarkable achievement in 3 years of time in London for a man who barely speaks English. "Diego.. Diego.. Diego.." your name will always ring around.......
.......til whether or not another Spanish name prove himself in a Blue shirt. Yes, the burden of Blues spearhead comes over to his successor. Alvaro Morata. Will Chelsea have yet again, another "King" of the Bridge? We'll wait and see. til then.. Vamos, DIEGO!
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| Premier League Champ (Premier League) |
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