Player Focus: Can Costa Become Mourinho's New Drogba?
By now, none of it is a secret.
Chelsea did not win the English title because they did not have enough goals in them. Jose Mourinho has expressly admitted he wants to sign a high-profile striker this summer. That striker is now highly likely to be Atlético Madrid’s Diego Costa, given the extent of negotiations between the two clubs over the past few months. What is much more open to question, however, is whether the naturalised Spaniard will finally solve Chelsea’s long-standing striker issue.
Make no mistake, this is not to downplay Costa’s clearly brilliant abilities. His pace and power have the potential to be devastating at the top level in the long-term. That has certainly proven the case over the course of 2013-14. At the same time, it is still only one season.
Chelsea, by contrast, have suffered a fair few seasons of problems up front and a lot of failed big-money strikers. At the very least, it is eminently reasonable to say the vast majority have not worked out as expected. At the top of the list is obviously Fernando Torres but he was preceded by Andriy Shevchenko, Adrian Mutu, Mateja Kezman and, to a lesser extent, the likes of Hernan Crespo. You have to go back to Didier Drogba for a Chelsea forward that truly exceeded expectations. That may be apt, however, and finally mark a change.
When the Ivorian signed for Chelsea in 2004, he was at a similar age and a similar stage of development as 25-year-old Costa, with a good deal of similarities in terms of style of play. That is key because Drogba did much more than just score goals for Mourinho, and Mourinho wants much more than just a goalscorer in Costa.
The Portuguese has tended to favour forwards capable of the physical work, who pin attacks together, and occupy defences sufficiently to allow the rest of the attackers to surge in behind. It is almost like three jobs in one, which was reflected by the amount of work Drogba was willing to do for the manager, and why they maintained such a strong relationship.
In that regard, Torres has always felt more of a back-up option or alternative rather than a true Mourinho striker. Even a pure number-nine like Samuel Eto’o, as so many football figures in Spain have described the Cameroonian striker, played some of his best performances for the Portuguese out wide while at Inter.
And, when you compare Costa’s stats to Chelsea’s existing strikers - including on-loan Romelu Lukaku - you realise why Mourinho is prepared to take a punt on him. Of course, it then doesn't feel like a punt.
For a start, there are the basics: Costa has been much more prolific than all of them this season, with 27 goals in 34 appearances. Only Lukaku comes close with 15 in 31. None of the rest really get near that. It’s difficult not to think Costa would have created the opening in one of the home matches against Sunderland, Norwich City, West Ham United and West Brom that so cost Chelsea. He also hits more shots than all of them at 3.3 a game - with by far the best conversion rate (25%) - indicating how he can suddenly blow a game open in the way a prime Eto’o used to.
It is in the other attributes that Mourinho expects, though, where Costa really stands out: how much he puts himself about. The difference between the Spaniard and the rest is actually quite remarkable. Costa is ahead of all of them in virtually every other aspect of his game except aerial duels won per match - 1.3 compared to Lukaku’s 2.9, for example - but he more than makes up for it.
For one, there is his running. With 1.9 successful dribbles per game, Costa tears at defences in a greater manner, but also looks to get in behind them, caught offside on average 1.3 times per game. None of the other four even come close in this regard. Then, there is the dirty work.
Only Eto’o matches him for tackles, at 0.6 per game, but Costa is willing to fight more, making at least double the fouls of any of them, at 1.9 per game. Needless to say, they are not all the types of underhand play he has become notorious for. That ensures the striker gives defences much more to think about, as he himself is fouled 3.2 times a game.
In all of that, there is no comparison, at least with Chelsea’s current forwards. Costa has the potential, however, to become Mourinho’s new Drogba figure.
Do you think Costa has what it takes to succeed at Chelsea? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
