Diego Costa (Part 3)

Diego Costa made an impressive start to his Chelsea career, scoring on his debut in a friendly match against Olimpija and continuing his scoring streak in competitive matches. He scored in Chelsea first Premier League game of the season against Burnley, followed by a brace against Everton, where he also scored the team's fastest goal after just 35 seconds. His outstanding performances earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award for August 2014.
Costa continued to showcase his goal-scoring prowess, scoring a hat-trick against Swansea City and setting a Premier League record for the most goals in the first four matches of a season. However, he was hampered by a recurring hamstring injury, which limited his participation in training and required him to manage his fitness carefully.


Despite his injury concerns, Costa remained a key player for Chelsea throughout the season. He scored crucial goals, including the winner against Liverpool and the second goal in the League Cup final victory against Tottenham Hotspur. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2014-2015 season.Costa season was briefly interrupted by a three-match ban following an incident in the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, but he returned to help Chelsea secure the Premier League title. He scored his 20th league goal of the season in the final match against Sunderland, reaffirming his importance to the team.
Despite speculation about his future at Chelsea, Costa expressed his commitment to the club and stated his desire to stay in London. He emphasized his love for the club and its fans and expressed his eagerness to win more trophies in the upcoming seasons.


Diego Costa time at Chelsea was marked by both impressive performances on the field and controversy off it. Despite missing the 2015 FA Community Shield due to injury, he made a significant impact in Chelsea's campaign. He scored his first goal of the season in a win against West Bromwich Albion and followed it up with his first Champions League goal for the club against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
However, Costa was frequently involved in contentious incidents, drawing criticism for his conduct. In a match against Arsenal, he was charged with violent conduct by the FA for his altercation with Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel, resulting in a three-match suspension. This incident added to his reputation as a combative player, with media outlets dubbing him as the Premier League's dirtiest player.


Costa behavior continued to court controversy throughout the season. He was accused of assault by a stadium steward after a match against Stoke City, although no further action was taken. In another incident against Liverpool, he appeared to dig his boot into Martin skrtel chest, escaping punishment from the FA.
His relationship with Chelsea fans became strained, with some blaming him, along with other players, for the sacking of manager José Mourinho. However, under interim manager Guus Hiddink, Costa regained form and contributed crucial goals to the team.


Despite his on field contributions, Costa's disciplinary issues persisted. He received his first red card for Chelsea in an FA Cup quarter-final match against Everton for confronting Gareth Barry, with allegations of biting Barry during the altercation. Costa's ban was extended to three matches, and he was fined for his actions.
In another contentious moment, during a match against Tottenham, Costa was gouged in the eyes by Mousa Dembele during a brawl, resulting in a retrospective ban for the Tottenham player. Costa's time at Chelsea was characterized by his effectiveness as a striker but also by his controversial behavior, which often overshadowed his performances on the pitch.


Diego Costa 2016-2017 season with Chelsea was characterized by both his goal-scoring prowess and off-field controversies. He started the season strongly, scoring crucial goals for Chelsea, including a late winner against West Ham United in their season opener. However, his aggressive playing style often led to disciplinary issues, such as a late challenge on West Ham goalkeeper Adrian during that match, which went unpunished despite his already being on a yellow card.
Costa continued his goal-scoring form throughout the season, becoming the first player to reach ten league goals for the season with a goal against Middlesbrough in November. His impressive performances earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award for November 2016. Despite his success on the pitch, Costa's relationship with manager Antonio Conte deteriorated in January 2017, leading to him being dropped from the team amidst interest from the Chinese Super League.


However, a potential move to Tianjin Quanjian F.C. was halted by league regulations limiting the number of foreign players each team could have. Despite the off-field distractions, Costa returned to Chelsea starting lineup in January, marking his 100th appearance for the club with a goal against Hull City. He finished the season as Chelsea's top scorer with 20 goals as they clinched the Premier League title. In the 2017 FA Cup Final against Arsenal, Costa scored an equalizer in a 2–1 loss, capping off a season of highs and lows for the striker at Chelsea.


Diego Costa return to Atletico Madrid in January 2018 marked a significant moment in his career. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut in the Copa del Rey against Lleida Esportiu and following it up with a goal in his first league game back against Getafe. However, his celebration after scoring against Getafe led to a red card, demonstrating his fiery temperament.
Despite occasional disciplinary issues, Costa played a crucial role in Atletico successes. He played a pivotal role in Antoine Griezmann return to form, with his physical presence upfront creating space for his teammates. Costa performance in the Europa League was particularly notable, scoring crucial goals including the only goal in the semi-final against Arsenal and featuring in the final win over Olympique de Marseille.


UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid, Costa scored twice, including a goal within the first 50 seconds, helping Atlético secure a 4–2 win after extra time. However, his aggressive nature sometimes led to suspensions, such as an 8-match ban for abusing a referee in a match against FC Barcelona in April 2019.
Despite occasional disciplinary issues, Costa remained a valuable asset for Atletico, reaching a milestone of 200 club appearances in June 2020. However, his time at the club came to an end in December 2020 when he and Atlético agreed to terminate his contract, making him a free agent.

References

1.  Corrigan, Dermot. "Diego Costa and Atletico teammates helping Griezmann back to form". ESPN. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
2. ^ Sanders, Emma. "Atlético Madrid 1–0 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
3. ^ Murray, Scott. "Marseille 0–3 Atlético". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
4. ^ "Diego Costa double helps Atlético beat Real Madrid 4-2 in Uefa Super Cup". The Guardian. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
5. ^ "Diego Costa: Striker handed eight-game ban for abusing referee". BBC Sport. 11 April 2019.
6. ^ "Diego Costa y los 200: "Nunca imaginé jugar tantos partidos""  AS. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
7. ^ "La Liga: Diego Costa Strike Guarantees Atletico Madrid Top-four Finish with 1-0 Win over Real Betis". News 18. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
8. ^ Westwood, James . "Atletico Madrid confirm termination of Diego Costa contract to end Spain striker's second spell at club". Goal.com. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
9. ^ "Atlético-MG oficializa a contratação de Diego Costa" . 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
10. ^ "Diego Costa marca na estreia e garante empate do líder Atlético-MG com o Bragantino" . 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
11. ^ "Diego Costa se despede do Atlético-MG: "Sentimento de gratidão"" . Retrieved 28 February 2022.
12. ^ "Costa completes Wolves move". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.