Diego
Costa took centre stage with a man-of-the-match performance in Chelsea's 2-2
draw with Swansea on Super Sunday. The controversial striker is a pantomime
villain who provokes opponents like few others, but does it matter when he
plays like this?
In the build-up to Chelsea's trip to the Liberty Stadium, Antonio Conte
dished out some advice to Diego Costa. The striker had started the season
strongly under the new head coach, but for each of his goals there had been
a yellow card, and Conte was well aware that he was treading a fine line.
"I want him to play with the right passion and the right aggression," said
the Italian. "He must transfer his emotions to the pitch in the right way.
Always." Conte is not the first manager who has struggled to tame Costa -
just ask Jose Mourinho - but if he continues to perform at his current level
then he might be tempted to let him get on with it.
After decisive goals against West Ham and Watford in the first two games of
the season, the Spain international added two more against Swansea. He
opened the scoring with a clinical finish on his weaker foot in the first
half, and he rescued a point for Chelsea with a brilliant overhead kick
after the hosts had rather fortuitously turned a one-sided game on its head.
There was, predictably, another yellow card and an ongoing feud with his
marker, Jordi Amat, which threatened to boil over, but Costa retains an
unrivalled knack for staying on the pitch while pushing the rules to their
limits. Indeed, it was telling that he only conceded one foul but won seven
at the Liberty Stadium. This is Diego Costa, the arch-provocateur who has
only been sent off twice in his entire career.
Costa's blend of snarling aggression and dangerous ill-discipline was
apparent last season, but there are other differences in his performances
that could hardly be clearer. Costa was indifferent and out-of-form as
Chelsea lurched through the first half of the last campaign, and by the time
he reached four Premier League goals, four months had passed and their title
defence was in tatters.
This year it has taken him four weeks, and Chelsea are only two points off
the top of the table. A player who admitted he wanted to return Atletico
Madrid in the summer has been transformed by Conte's arrival, and perhaps
the most noticeable difference is his work-rate. Eden Hazard was the only
Chelsea player to make more sprints against Swansea, and Costa has shown
similar industry in each of their previous games.
Diego Costa's work rate - Premier League 2016/17
Opposition Minutes played
Sprints Chelsea rank
West Ham (h) 90
83
1st
Watford (a)
90
61
2nd
Burnley (h)
80
51
3rd
Swansea (a) 90
61
2nd
Costa made it a horrible afternoon for Swansea's defenders, challenging,
jabbing, kicking, and competing more duels (22) than any other player on the
pitch. If there was a moment to sum him up, it was early in the second half
when he launched a counter-attack on his own and, despite being surrounded
by white shirts, succeeded in not only keeping hold of the ball but winning
a free kick deep in Swansea territory.
Then, of course, there were the goals. The first was struck with the
unerring assurance of a player bursting with confidence, and the second was
a brilliant piece of improvisation. Costa missed an easier chance in the
first half and almost won it in the closing stages, but he still ended the
day at the top of the Premier League scoring charts, and his goals have
already won Chelsea seven points.
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola was in the Sky Sports studio to lead the
praise of their controversial striker. "I was impressed with his
performance, not only his goals but the movement he made," he said. "He held
the ball very well every time. Sometimes he was running the entire Swansea
defence on his own.
"Some players they need to be angry on the pitch. They need to have a little
bit of nastiness. As long as it's under control, like he was today, I think
it's fine for them. He has to be like that.
"It's also so important for the team-mates to have a player like that. In
our days Mark Hughes was the same, he was bullying the defenders and he was
a great example for the others. I think Costa is a very influential player
for Chelsea now."
Some might dispute Zola's assertion that Costa was "under control" against
Swansea, but no one could argue with his influence, and his furious reaction
to the final whistle was indicative of his desire. Conte's advice may have
fallen on deaf ears, but perhaps that's not a bad thing. Costa is back. And
he knows exactly what he's doing.
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