Costa Making Maximum Impact to Dispel Chelsea Exit Rumours
On the eve of his first competitive game as Chelsea manager, the unfailingly polite Antonio Conte was clearly trying to avoid any unnecessary controversy about individuals, but still made his feelings clear.
“Diego Costa is a great player and I know that he is a fantastic finisher,” the Italian said of the man who is presently his primary striker. “I think that Diego can improve still a lot. Now he is a fantastic player, but he can improve a lot. I hope for this.” As if that wasn’t enough, Conte laid it on even more. “I ask all the players for the right attitude, right behaviour and commitment. I am sure about this. It's important that the players, when we play, that we play our football. Not another football.
“Diego is a forward. He knows that in my idea of football, the forward must always be a point of reference for the team. I don't like the forward to move around the pitch. I like him to stay there. Because you are a forward, and your commitment is to score the goals, to stay in the right position. You are a forward, not a midfielder, not a defender.”
It doesn’t take too much reading between the lines to realise the Chelsea manager didn’t think Costa was up to scratch physically, nor properly interpreting his role mentally. Those comments also came after a lot of rumours about how settled in London the striker was, and it seemed inevitable he would be leaving before the window closed.
Instead, he has been the star of the first two games with successive late match-winners. He has naturally been as controversial as ever, but also as clinical, to the point that Conte and the Chelsea board are now reconsidering their moves.
The Italian had been insistent on signing one of Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata or Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, but - as with so much in this market - has found their prices to be ludicrously high. Those around Chelsea had been saying that the hierarchy were still confident of getting the Belgian before the window ends, as a grand game of transfer poker between seller and buyer gradually began to develop, right up until Costa’s summer displayed rapidly encouraging development.
It was not just that he scored those late strikes against West Ham United and Watford, it was the willingness of his play - the readiness to be a Conte player. If he started last season so sluggishly, there has only been a willingness to slug for his manager here, right down to poleaxing Adrian in the opening game of the season. He may have been fortunate to stay on both for that and then the dive at Watford but, given the type of character he is, it could be argued this is actually a sign he cares; that he is on his game.
As well as fouling more abrasively than the start of last season, he is shooting more, taking four compared to two. Three of those have also been on target. He does have the second most unsuccessful dribbles in the league, at seven, and the second most unsuccessful touches, at nine, but they’re the kind of figures that come when your manager demands high-intensity running. It’s hard to be beat players elegantly when it’s demanded you always press, but there has still been an impressive sheen to his finishes.
The winner against West Ham was a precise low shot from the edge of the box - his first league goal that wasn't scored inside the penalty area since the 15th of February 2014 for Atletico Madrid - and the strike at Watford a striker’s classic in how he sleekly put the ball through Heurelho Gomes’ legs.
Conte’s late formation switches to a 4-2-4 when not winning and the fine form of impact sub Michy Batshuayi have clearly helped, but that’s kind of the point. It shows Costa can work in the manager’s ideal formation, and it’s all the more beneficial that he has linked up so well with the club’s signing for the future. It remains to be seen whether it will all stay like this but, so far, Costa has made the strongest case possible for remaining at the club.
This does not look like a player who wants away. This looks someone with deep desire to set things right. He has not just improved. He has made maximum impact.
What do you make of Diego Costa's start to life under Antonio Conte? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
