Many may have forgotten that at Atletico Madrid, Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa were strike partners. In the 2012-13 season the duo managed to score thirty eight La Liga goals between them. With leadman Falcao getting twenty eight and sidekick Costa helping out with ten of his own.

This summer has seen the forwards have been reunited at Chelsea but much has changed since 2013!

Costa managed to step out of Falcao’s shadow and has become one of Europe’s best frontmen. No longer just a bully boy number two striker who will work hard just to see someone else get all the glory in scoring the winning goals. The Spanish hitman is now a complete striker and a great focal point for his team.

In fact in the two seasons since their Atletico Madrid days, Costa has managed to grab forty-seven league goals compared to Radamel’s fifteen.

During those two years, Colombian forward Falcao hasn’t had much luck with injuries or proving his fitness. In January 2014 he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and hasn’t been the same player since.

Last season he joined Manchester United on loan but failed to really get going at Old Trafford. Fitness issues seemed to make United boss Louis van Gaal reluctant to trust the centre-forward in the heat of battle. That meant that Falcao only managed a meagrely four goals in England’s top flight last term.

His form, or lack there of, made it very surprising that Jose Mourinho plumped to sign the forward on a season long loan from AS Monaco. Especially when you consider that Diego Costa lead the clubs scoring charts with twenty strikes in his debut season.

They also had back-up striker Loic Remy who contributed with seven league goals. You’d imagine the Frenchman will still be Chelsea’s second forward going into the new season.

That could mean that at twenty-nine years of age Falcao, once Europe’s hottest property, could be nothing more than a replacement for veteran hitman Didier Drogba and be third back up forward at the Bridge.

By getting an odd game here or there, that would be no good for Radamel Falcao as he really needs minutes on the field and to get amongst goals regularly if he’s going to be able to resurrect his career.

But could Jose have a trick up his sleeve? 

Plenty have speculated this summer that the legendary Portuguese boss could try out Falcao and Costa as a starting duo again.

Costa complimented his teammate, when he said:

“He’s a top bloke too. He gets on very well with his team-mates and he will help us a lot off the field, in the dressing room.

“He is a really big-hearted guy and that’s the most important thing.”

Costa’s words are encouraging and show that there’s no animosity or jealousy between the two.

But if you analyse them deeper it doesn’t suggest that the Spanish international is ready to go back to the old days where he did all the spade work while Falcao got all the glory. It says he’s a good guy even if he’s not the talent that he once was.

In truth Radamel Falcao might have to be the one who sacrifices his chance of being the main striker, if he stands a chance of playing alongside Costa.

Diego is already a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge and, unlike Falcao, he took to the Premier League like a duck to water last season. So I really can’t see Jose changing his role at the club. He will continue to be number one!

So the more I think about it, I just can’t see Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa forming a partnership from the start of many Premier League fixtures next season.

I think Falcao may have a better season at Chelsea than he did at Man Utd but I really cannot see him hitting the heights that he once did at Atletico Madrid again!

That seems to be the sad truth to it all.

Posted on July 27th, 2015 by scott
Filed under: Article