Player Focus: Classless Costa at the Forefront of Chelsea's Goalscoring Struggles

“With Diego I wanted him to do a certain movement that he didn’t and I was disappointed and reacted and he reacted too, but at half time in the dressing room there were a few kisses and cuddles,” Jose Mourinho said of Diego Costa following Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv after a much-publicised spat between the two. However, that paled in comparison to what was seen between the two in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with London rivals Tottenham. 

All seemed rosy again between the pair, until it emerged that Mourinho opted to leave Costa on the bench for the stalemate, instead using Eden Hazard in a false-9 role. The decision to leave out Costa showed, with the Blues mustering just one shot on target over the 90 minutes, that coming through Hazard forcing a stunning stop from Hugo Lloris. The frustration smattered across the Spaniard’s face was clear for all to see. When asked to warm up by his manager, the 27-year-old put in as little effort as possible. 

When Mourinho called on Kenedy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to enter the field of play, Costa vented by tossing his bib in the air, which just so happened to be caught in the North London wind to send it in the direction of his manager. Though Chelsea struggled to forge goalscoring opportunities, Mourinho opted against calling on the club’s primary frontman. “Bib-gate” hogged the limelight in what was a drab London derby in Sunday’s early kick off, but only marks what has been a disappointing start to Costa’s second season in England. 

Prior to injury last season, the Spain international was in superb form. 20 league goals in his debut campaign from just 26 appearances was the third best in England’s top tier last term as Costa didn’t just hit the ground running; he landed in London at full sprint. Of course, doing so increased his risk of injury - Costa is renowned for chewing gum hamstrings - but it seemed a match-made in heaven for both Chelsea and the player. 

The west London side required a consistent physical threat, lacking since Didier Drogba’s initial exit back in 2012, and a striker to perform the nitty-gritty defensive work in the final third. Costa fitted the bill perfectly and it showed in his debut campaign. A WhoScored rating of 7.43 was one of the better returns in the Premier League last season, yet that figure has fallen to 6.77. The key drop, of course, has been in the number of goals the striker has netted. 

Costa has just three league goals to his name this season. At the same stage last term, he had already bagged 11 times. As one might expect, his conversion rate has also nosedived, from 26.3% to 13%. For a team hoping to defend its Premier League crown, the lack of goals is a concern. It’s not for want of trying, despite his average number of shots per game dropping this season (2.1) compared to last (2.9), but he looks a shadow of his former self this term. 

That isn’t to say the aggressive side to his game has deserted him. Costa is making 1.6 fouls per league game this season, an increase on last (1.3), though this highlights that his frustrations are getting the better of him on the pitch. While last term, his feisty approach would land him in hot water, he still bagged the goals, which meant there was substance to his feisty style. This season, though, the poor return in front of goal means supporters are beginning to get on his back as his troubles in the 18-yard box go on. Those who praised him last term are beginning to criticise Costa, and justifiably so. 

His touchline antics on Sunday represented a microcosm of how petulant a player Costa can be and it is costing him playing time and Chelsea points. “For me his behavior is normal. A top player on the bench will not be happy,” Mourinho said in the wake of Costa’s outburst at White Hart Lane. However, Mourinho has every right to be dissatisfied, both with the way his player reacted and his performances on the pitch. 

The Brazil-born frontman appears to have altered his own game, which is hindering his impact in the final third. Costa made a name for himself in Spain for his never-say-die attitude and while he is still keen to chase down loose ends as a means of pressuring the defence, the striker is looking to take on defences single-handedly rather than support his teammates. Costa is attempting considerably more dribbles per game this term (3.8) than last (2.7), though the ability to carry possession is not one of his strong points. 

Of the 37 players to attempt 100 or more dribbles since the start of the 2014/15 Premier League season, Costa has the second worst success rate (38.1%). Those around him - notably Hazard and Willian - are far more comfortable at rounding an opponent, which makes Costa’s insistence on trying to beat his man all the more bemusing. His inability to take the ball past an opponent means Chelsea attacks often break down, which in turn is hindering the Blues. It’s no shock that Chelsea have scored almost half the number of goals this season (17) as they had after 14 league games last season (33). Costa’s inability to consistently hit the back of the net is having an adverse effect on the team, but then a failure to better his form has cost him a place in the Chelsea starting XI. 

The act of petulance on the White Hart Lane sidelines will have only enraged his manager further, despite Mourinho suggesting otherwise, hindering his chance of returning to the first team fold in the foreseeable future. However, even when involved, Costa is clearly a striker devoid of any semblance of form.

Has Diego Costa played his last game in a Chelsea shirt or can he re-establish himself under Jose Mourinho? Let us know in the comments below