Costa and the EPL Title: Why he will decide it for Chelsea

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Diego Costa started the season in an angry mode and was his usual fire-fighting self and at a point in the game against Leicester City, he angrily gestured to Antonio Conte to be replaced. He was snubbed and afterward he aptly had a dressing down from Conte in the dressing room.

In that match, Conte was already on four yellow cards but eight matches and wins after; he is still on four yellow cards.

Where he was a fuse away from blowing up, he is now conciliatory, offering hands of friendship to opposing defenders but the fight that used to be directed at these opponents is now exponentially directed in scoring goals.

This is the new Costa, the fighter, who keeps his fight strictly with the ball and opposing goal.



Costa is leaner

Where the Spaniard used to be troubled by niggling hamstring problems, he seems to have found his ideal playing weight. He is still aggressive, running the channels and chasing after lost causes and his body is not letting him down.



Costa is more focused

Where 50% of his time and energy was focused on getting into fights with opponents, he is now more focused on being a team player and scoring. Even though he has scored 12 league goals, he has also created six goals for his teammates as Chelsea seek to end 2017 on top of the English Premier League.



Costa has a new attacking balance

Where Costa was a lone ranger in attack last season, he now has the duo of Eden Hazard and Pedro, who really close the distance to Costa and ensure that he can give and go. He is also staying very calm in front of goal whereas he seemed to be anxious last season and did not put himself in scoring positions. This season, he is demanding the ball and working the shoulder of the last defender to greater effect.



Last season before Jose Mourinho was given the boot, Costa was labeled a rat, alongside Hazard and Cesc Fabregas but on account of what he is producing on a consistent basis, Conte might just become a title winner in his first year in England – all thanks to a motivated and focused Costa. 

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