Before last night Chelsea striker Diego Costa had gone seven club appearances without recording a single goal.

Then against Southampton the Spanish hitman managed to grab two goals and an assist, a performance that helped his side to an important victory.

That brace helped Costa reach his fiftieth goal for the club and it also took him to nineteen league goals for the season.

During his drought in front of goal, Chelsea lost to both Crystal Palace and Manchester United. Those defeats, along with with a Tottenham Hotspur winning run, saw the gap at the top being reduced to just four points.

It also wasn’t by coincidence that Diego started to pick up more yellow cards again during his lean spell, the forward was clearly under pressure and getting frustrated by his poor form.

People started to wonder if Antonio Conte’s men were going to crack under the pressure. Fans were also wondering if the side relied too much on their top marksman.

But against the Saints you got the feeling that the Chelsea’s squad had got back into the swing of things and that Costa had found his mojo again.

The FA Cup win over Spurs last weekend will have obviously helped spike up team morale but Costa’s goal return seems the tonic everyone at Stamford Bridge was looking for.

The club will now believe that the title challenge is back on track and that their striker is the man to get them over the line.

Blues boss Conte stated after the Southampton triumph that he had always believed in his number one striker:

“It’s important for forwards to score because the goal is your life,” 

“I always told him I was pleased with his commitment and work and he always worked for the team. I was always confident for him. I told you I am sure he is keeping his goals for the final part of the season.”

It helps that Diego had Cesc Fabregas playing behind him again, the duo have a terrific understanding and Cesc seems to just know the perfect time to release the ball to Costa in front of goal. Plus having a world class talent in Eden Hazard playing alongside you takes away some of that pressure.

Now whether Diego Costa stays or leaves Chelsea in the summer doesn’t really matter at this stage of the season. What matters for the fans is that he’s back with the bit between his teeth again and they can now head for the final straight with a goalscorer back amongst the goals!

So Costa has to forget any contract offers and speculation surrounding his future. All he needs to do is keep banging the goals in and lift a trophy or two come May.

Posted on April 26th, 2017 by scott
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