Last season; Diego Costa scored just 12 goals and had six assists in the league. This season, the Chelsea hitman already has 12 goals to his name and five assists in roughly half that time. He also leads the Premier League Golden Boot race with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez trailing him by a solitary goal. No other player has been involved in as many goals so far in England’s top tier.
To say that Costa has undergone a change of massive proportions in a matter of few months would be an understatement.
Just this past summer he was linked with a move back to Spain – his former hunting ground that is La Liga – with Atletico boss Diego Simeone reportedly waiting to receive him with open arms. When Chelsea signed the promising Michy Batshuayi for a handsome fee upwards of £33m, many expected Costa to move on or play second fiddle after a disastrous season by his and the London club’s standards.
That is until Antonio Conte brought out the best in him and made him a striker to be feared and respected once again.
New lease of life under Conte
The Italian has accomplished the seemingly impossible by putting on blinders on Costa’s bridle, giving him a tunnel vision of sorts to focus on what really matters – football. The Brazilian-born Spanish striker has always been a “bad boy” on the pitch, snarling at his opponents and causing trouble on and off the ball.
But it seems like Conte has suppressed those wild emotions and tamed the wild stallion. Costa is now his prized thoroughbred that has led his side to the top of the table following a shaky start. Nine wins in a row following defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal can be attributed to the change in his system at the back but it is the resurgence of Costa (and Eden Hazard) that has been instrumental in the Blues’ capturing top spot.
The 28-year-old is no longer that sly and petulant bully who got away with his petty shenanigans much to the consternation of opponents. After picking up his fourth yellow card in the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in September, Conte feared the worst. A suspension was the last thing he needed when the club was down in eighth spot with the ever-impatient club owner Roman Abramovich reportedly breathing down his neck.
“It’s incredible that, after the Arsenal defeat, Diego had four yellow cards and was on the edge, and he has continued to stay on the edge. I think he can arrive in January without a yellow card. I hope.” – Antonio Conte
If Costa can safely navigate his way through the next four games without a booking, he will avoid the automatic one-game suspension that comes with it.
But judging by his behaviour in recent games, it would be difficult to peg him for a troublemaker. Yes, his character and his past warrant caution but, suddenly, Costa does not seem perturbed by his opponents or their machinations to frustrate him.
Pats on the back of defenders as a sign of mutual respect... Helping up opponents sprawled on the pitch... Not remonstrating with the referee for a decision that does not go his way...
“I think we are seeing more composure from Diego this season. I know everyone thinks he is an angry guy but you can see a smarter player now.” – Gary Cahill
When the mass brawl erupted towards the end of the high-octane clash with Manchester City, the old Costa may have salivated at the opportunity to square up with his opponents. However, there he was, running from the relative safety of the bench towards the conflagration – not to get involved but to don the role of the pacifier.
Teammates reaping benefits of Costa’s form
While his behaviour on the pitch is noteworthy, his form has been inspirational. The last four games have been narrow wins and it is either his goals or his assists (or both) that have made the difference between one point and three. His last goal, a left-footed strike from a narrow angle after a physical battle to win the ball was pure, unadulterated Costa on a whole new level.
The fact that Chelsea do not have European commitments plays to his advantage. In seasons past, his hamstring had stopped him from performing in all competitions for a sustained period. This year, his fitness has improved, he looks leaner, has only the league to focus on and now goes into every game hungry for goals.
As a result, Hazard and even Pedro, once dubbed a lacklustre signing, have thrived on either side of him. The trio has 23 goals and 11 assists between them after 15 games. With Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso stretching defences while Costa occupies the centre-backs, the two wingers have found the freedom to drift in and wreak havoc.
Arsene Wenger, who has suffered from Costa's wrath time and again, was also one of many to praise his form this season. “He looks, since the start of the season, to have cleaned up his act, that he behaves more focused on the game,” the Gunners boss explained. “And that makes him more dangerous.”
Times have changed. In the age of retrospective punishment, Costa has now become the striker that everyone looks up to while the visibly frustrated Sergio Aguero, once the darling striker of the Premier League, has now received a red card and two suspensions in record time.
If Costa can continue in this rich vein of form, the league title is a very realistic target for a team that is flying high on his heroics.
