Diego Costa: A look at the underrated striker's career so far

3. Hello England, hello stardom, hello controversies

Chelsea v Leicester City - Premier League

In an injury-marred season of 2014-15, he played well finding the back of the net 20 times in his first season with Chelsea. It was not a bad return after all from the striker. He won the Premier League and the League Cup with Chelsea that season.

If the first season was riddled with injuries, Costa successfully dedicated the next season (2015-16) to a series of controversies. The first of the controversies came against Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.

...Costa was involved in controversy in a 2–0 home win over Arsenal; he repeatedly slapped Laurent Koscielny and chest-bumped him to the ground, and then confronted Gabriel, who allegedly tried to kick him and was sent off, though footage from ESPN Brazil later showed that little to no contact actually took place. (Source: Wikipedia)

Later in the season, he received his first red card in a Chelsea jersey when he was found confronting and biting Gareth Barry of Everton.

During his stay at Chelsea from 2014-15 to 2017-18 season, he made 120 appearances and scored 58 goals and assisted 24. Given the intensity of the Premier League, this return was a good number for the Blues.

Costa's tryst with controversies and injuries had pegged him back from being considered one of the best from that Chelsea era. The nature of physical play has always been his friend and foe simultaneously. Controversies remained his partner throughout an otherwise what would have been a glorious career. His confrontations with opponents and coaches were not pleasing anyone.

Costa eventually returned to Atletico in 2018.