If there is one player in the Chelsea squad that is crucial to their challenge of retaining their Premier League crown, it’s Diego Costa. Blues boss Jose Mourinho had one reason to feel satisfied following the draw at home to Swansea on the opening day, and that’s because of his goal scorer.
In a crazy match, where Bafetimbi Gomis, who was taken down by Thibaut Courtois who saw red, scored the penalty to level the game up, the majority of the second half of the game was the hosts attempting to find the net – and it didn’t come.
Leading the line for the Blues, with his very fashionable new side parting, was their key striker, Costa. Despite his best efforts throughout, they simply couldn’t find the gold. However, in the game, Costa did more than enough to prove to his boss and his critics that he is the man to lead Chelsea again this season.
Speaking to the Guardian post-match, Mourinho said:
“He did very well, and again the second half is very difficult because it was a big difference, one player less and a lot of effort. Even so I was not expecting him to resist for 90 minutes.”
“But because we wanted to try to get a goal we went with him until the end and it was very important and new for us that he played for 90 minutes with such a physical performance. He is happy with the reaction. He is OK, happy, he is very happy and with the reaction with his body after such a hard game.”
The ex-Atletico Madrid striker will be hoping to open his tally for the season next week as the Blues travel up to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City.
