Costa Looking To
Return To Form Against The Reds
Personal information
Full name: Diego da Silva Costa
Date of birth: 7 October 1988
Age: 26
Place of birth: Lagarto, Brazil
Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position: Striker
Club information
Current team: Chelsea
Number: 19
Youth career
2004–2006: Barcelona Esportivo Capela
Senior career
2006: Braga 0 Appearances, 0 goals
2006 → Penafiel (loan) 14 Appearances, 5 goals
2007–2009: Atletico Madrid 0 (0)
2007 → Braga (loan) 10 Appearances, 1 goal
2007–2008 → Celta (loan) 31 Appearances, 5 goals
2008–2009 → Albacete (loan) 36 Appearances, 9 goals
2009–2010 Valladolid 36 Appearances, 9 goals
2010–2014 Atletico Madrid 135 Appearances, 64 goals
2012 → Rayo Vallecano (loan) 16 Appearances, 10 goals
2014– Chelsea 9 Appearances, 9 goals
National team
2013: Brazil 2 Appearances, 0 goals
2014– Spain 7 Appearances, 1 goal
Diego Costa has taken the Premier League by storm. He
already has nine goals in eight appearances for the Blues. The 25-year-old can
score with either foot, or with his head – thanks to his excellent technical
ability and his powerful aerial presence. Costa is happy to work for his team. The
Spain striker returned to action last weekend after missing four games with a
hamstring injury, but failed to add to his tally this season. Costa was missing
from Chelsea’s previous four competitive matches after returning injured from
Spain duty following the last international break, reigniting the
club-versus-country debate. The 26-year-old striker was back in the starting XI
for the victory over Harry Redknapp’s men at Stamford Bridge, but, after a
decent first-half showing, he appeared to tire and was substituted in the 78th
minute. Manager Mourinho stated his belief that Costa can quickly reach the
form that has seen him score nine Premier League goals in just eight
appearances this term.
Since moving to the Premier League, the Spaniard has made
the transformation from Spanish football look easy. After four games, he had
seven goals, becoming the first player in history to hit such a tally so early
into his career in England’s top flight. His goalscoring form has put Chelsea
in the driving seat early on in the title race, and they now look a formidable
force with the ability to outscore and outmuscle any opponent.
When foreign
players join Premier League clubs, it often takes them anywhere from a few
games to an entire season to acclimate to the English game. In less than a
month, Costa became the single most unstoppable force in the Premier
League. Costa burst on the scene as a world-class player last season for
Atletico Madrid, scoring 27 league goals and leading Atletico to the league
title, but many wrote him off as a one-season wonder. After controversially
swapping his nationality to play for Spain at the World Cup, Costa had a miserable
time in Brazil and was on a plane home after just three games — but those
struggles are a distant memory for Costa. He’s found a perfect home at Chelsea.
The former Atletico Madrid man is truly rampant—music to the ears of every
Chelsea supporter.
Costa completed his transfer from Atletico Madrid on
15 July 2014 by signing a five-year contract. He marked his first appearance in
the blue of Chelsea with a goal, Olimpija Ljubljana the opponents in a
pre-season friendly. His excellent run since has included a hat-trick, against
Swansea, and a brace at Everton. He was rewarded for his exceptional start with
the Barclays Player of the Month award for August.
Since becoming a first-choice selection at Atletico, Costa has been one of the most consistent strikers in European football, with
his goals and performances over the course of 2013/14 propelling his former
club to a first La Liga title in 18 years and a place in the Champions League
final. Powerful and direct, he built a strong reputation in Spain as a fine
finisher, particularly in one-on-one situations. He is capable of scoring goals
with both his left and right foot while his physical nature also makes him a
real threat in the air, with his ability to run in behind opposition defenders
making him difficult to pick up.
Born in Brazil, Diego’s
professional career began at Portuguese club Braga in February 2006. A loan
spell at Penafiel in the second division followed before he was sold to
Atletico during the 2006/07 campaign. The rest is history but the 2012/13
season was the one in which he genuinely established himself as a crucial part
of Diego Simeone’s Atletico side. Regular starts ensured he was able to produce
consistent performances and he ended the season with an impressive 20 goals. Costa was a key figure in Atletico’s successful Spanish Cup campaign, scoring
three goals over the course of a two-legged semi-final against Sevilla and also
firing the equaliser as they came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the
final. He finished as the competition’s top scorer with eight goals. In 2013/14
he again took his game to another level, with his goals inspiring Atletico to
overcome Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the Spanish title. Atletico secured
the Spanish title courtesy of a final-day draw against Barcelona at Camp Nou,
although on a personal note it was a disappointing afternoon for the forward as
he limped out of the game early on with the hamstring injury that would limit
his participation in the all-Madrid Champions League final to just the opening
few minutes. He ended his time at Atletico having scored 64 goals in 134
appearances. Upon joining Chelsea, he was given the number 19 shirt vacated by
the departure of Demba Ba.
Not only is he scoring goals galore, but he runs the channels, and can
hold up the ball effortlessly and the Spanish international contributes
defensively, too. Gone are Chelsea’s problems in attack; Diego Costa has
arrived on the scene and has made the Blues firm favourites to win the 2014/15
Premier League title.