Chelsea manager José Mourinho thinks that the return of Diego Costa could be the vital ingredient in getting Chelsea’s faltering season back on track.
The defending champions have endured a miserable start to the season, with Diego Costa drawing widespread criticism and a three match suspension for his behaviour against Arsenal in September. Costa returned from suspension and helped Chelsea to a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday with his first league goal of the season.
His manager Jose Mourinho hailed the leadership qualities of his under fire striker, "Sometimes personality qualities add something to the team. Diego isn’t a leader in the dressing room – he doesn’t even speak English well to be fluent – but in the game, the way he plays, the way he gives his body to the cause – it is always punished – is brilliant.
"The character, the personality, the movement, the [positional sense] to stretch the game when the team is under pressure, to ask for the ball in the space, to let the team come out of the pressure zones. He has a lot of tactical quality the team needs.
"When you lose him we’re a bit in trouble because the team always depends on a striker like him, from a character and personality like him."
Costa was again involved in a couple of minor flashpoints with Villa players, but Mourinho unrepentantly stood in his striker’s corner, "I’m pleased he didn’t react but I would be even happier if the people who find his hypothetical or real negative moments were honest the other way, and show and show and show." Costa is again expected to start as Chelsea travel to Kyiv for a Champions League fixture on Tuesday, with back up striker Radamel Falcao already voicing concern over a lack of minutes at Chelsea.
