Diego Costa’s apologists approaching peak banter over Chelsea’s striker
While Diego Costa is looking up what the weather is like in Shanghai, his fans (and supporters) are digging deep to cover him with protective banter.
Diego Costa is proving the validity of what your mother taught you about first impressions. Costa scored 20 goals en route to a Premier League title in his first season with Chelsea. His fiery, aggressive ways cemented his reputation among Chelsea fans: He’s a complete (choose your favorite), but he’s *our* (say it again).
Two seasons on, Costa’s supporters are still leaning on that first impression despite anything new to reinforce it. They are subjecting the rest of Chelsea’s fan (and supporter) community to a downward spiral of #bantz that mirrors Costa’s play.
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Without Costa’s goals, Chelsea would be mid-table at best. Because clearly Chelsea would play with 10 men if he were not in the lineup.
Costa draws so many defenders towards him he opens up the entire attacking third. Eden Hazard can practically stroll in on goal while Costa ties up the opposition’s backline.
And, of course, Costa fights! Well, lately, he’s been doing more flopping than fighting. And his fights have caused his share of yellow cards. Not to mention that one time he fought with Antonio Conte at training.
Never you mind. But. He. Fights.
"I can’t get my head around why people are defending him so much. If Thibaut Courtois or Eden Hazard even mention a word that sounds like ‘Madrid,’ Chelsea fans are like ‘Well you can go then. We don’t care, we don’t even like you.’ Costa could be sat wearing a Barcelona top and Chelsea fans would be like ‘Nah, nah, nah he likes Chelsea. We still love you, he’s the governor.’ – Daniel Mcclue, The Blue Lions"
Diego Costa has overtaken Thibaut Courtois as the player most overtly wishing he were playing somewhere else. Speaking at a press conference for Spain in the most recent international break, Costa rattled off a list of Ligue One teams where he would like to play.
Costa is collecting dividends far in excess of anything he has invested or created at Chelsea. If any other player was musing about his preferred transfer destinations while having nothing to show on the pitch, he would be the subject of banners and chants. Instead, Costa somehow earns the hottest bants from his faithful.
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Next season, Costa will be some other club’s favorite (hope you remembered your descriptor). Chelsea will relearn what it is like to have a striker who wants to score goals. As long as he also fights (he fights!), Costa fans will move on seamlessly.