Diego Costa finally recovers his form to give Chelsea reason to hope in Champions League
He had his best performance in months against Porto, in which he finally did what Mourinho had been demanding, asking questions of the opposition with his movement
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.When Chelsea drew 0-0 at Tottenham 12 days ago, and Diego Costa had his disagreement with a bib, he was showered and back on the team coach within a few quick minutes of the final whistle. Jose Mourinho said that Costa was lucky not to have been dropped beforehand: “He is probably eating, while waiting for us on the bus,” he said.
On Wednesday night after beating Porto to go through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners, Costa was still talking to the pitchside media, in Spanish and Portuguese, until 11pm, happy to chat away in the cold, even in his tracksuit bottoms and training t-shirt.
Costa was a man transformed, which is how he looked on the pitch. He did not score, but that is not the whole story. He scored against Norwich and did not especially impress his manager. This, though, was his best performance in months, in which he finally did what Mourinho had been demanding, asking questions of the opposition with his movement.
The Spain international admitted after the match he has not been at his best but was still confident. “The bib incident is in the past, it was a mistake,” he said, “but my relationship with Mourinho is amazing. We get on really well. I have to improve a bit. The start of the season has not been good for me, not in how I have played, or in goals.”
Costa’s team-mate Oscar spoke after the game about how impressed he was with his good friend’s form after his restoration to the starting XI. “Diego played well,” he said. “He knows he is important for the team. It has been difficult for him. He is a striker, and strikers like to score goals. But he played well against Porto and he needs to continue. We are confident he will be back to his best very soon. He is very happy now.”
The change in Costa, in demeanour and performance, was remarkable. He played as if all of Mourinho’s cajoling, in public and private, had finally got through to him. It has, and if Costa plays like this again at Leicester City on Monday night, then back at home against Sunderland and Watford, then Chelsea will finally have their spearhead back again. And a fit, hungry Costa improves this whole team.
What it all comes down to is movement. Costa’s clever, selfless running without the ball was what helped Chelsea to open up opponents when they stormed their way to the title this time last year. Costa’s inability or unwillingness to do that this season was one of the reasons, though not the only one, why Chelsea were suddenly so blunt.
It was Costa’s failure to dart on to a clever Cesc Fabregas pass in Haifa two weeks ago that caused the great ruction between him and the manager. Mourinho snapped and shouted some abuse at Costa, who offered his own opinions in return.
When Mourinho gave his next press conference, on 27 November, he was more critical of Costa than he has ever been before. “He is not reading the game properly in these actions,” Mourinho said. “As a striker he must read. You have to play when others have the ball, anticipate things and read the game faster.”
So Costa was relegated to the bench for the Tottenham and Bournemouth games. Eden Hazard was used as a No 9 instead and Mourinho praised the Belgian for his clever runs in behind, the movements that Costa was no longer making. Costa was meant to be watching and learning and, judging by Wednesday night, he did.
The big difference in Costa’s game on Wednesday was his running. He did not score and his touch is not as good as it was last season. But his run in behind the defence made the first goal, while his hold-up play set up the second.
By going in behind Porto’s high line he forced them back, creating more space for Oscar, Willian and Hazard to create chances. Mourinho was delighted.
“His effort, his commitment, his great movement – which was something he didn’t have a couple of months before – was great,” Mourinho said afterwards. “The first goal was an own goal, but his movement was great in that. There is a lack of confidence, clearly. But his attitude was very good and his movement was much better. The goals are coming.”
On Wednesday, there was the first sign that Costa’s form is improving. Mourinho teams are built around powerful strikers, which is why they struggled up front in 2013-14, and why Mourinho was so desperate to sign Costa from Atletico Madrid.
Without Costa, or with an unfit, unfocused Costa, Chelsea have been half the side. If they are to do anything with this mess of a season, whether that is a top-four finish or winning a trophy, they will be dragged there by Diego Costa, now that Mourinho has unlocked him again.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments