Tactics and transfers: Making peace with Diego Costa staying at Chelsea

Diego Costa’s recent preconditions for a transfer make it increasingly likely that he will spend at least one more year at Chelsea. Best make our peace with it now.

Diego Costa’s departure to Tianjin Quanjian seemed one of the few certainties as Chelsea headed into the summer transfer window. His frustration with the weather, the culture, the language, the food or whatever else he did not like about west London could all vanish, leaving Chelsea with nothing but £70 million.

Once Tianjin backed off of the deal, though, Costa scrambled for a Plan B. Only the money attracted him to China. His heart still belonged to Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone. But they cannot afford Costa even at non-Chinese Super League prices. Costa, therefore, needed to stoke the fires in both camps.

Costa is preparing himself for another season – or more – at his second-favourite club, Chelsea. Chelsea fans must do the same, particularly those who tired of his antics in the second half of the season.

"He has a biweekly love affair with playing for Chelsea and in London. Sometimes he loves Chelsea, sometimes he doesn’t think they support him enough. Sometimes he wants a new contract, sometimes he wants out. It’s too much to deal with constantly and you can’t build a team around it. – Barrett Rouen, The Blue Lions"

But Chelsea must build a team around him, starting with the forward line. Costa’s extension at Chelsea could impel Antonio Conte to shift Chelsea to a 3-5-2. This would create a role for Romelu Lukaku or Alvaro Morata to start alongside Diego Costa. Conte is partial to this formation, and a second striker could better cover for Costa’s tactical and attitudinal short-comings than the winger-based 3-4-3.

Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s on-hand second-striker in the 3-5-2. Hazard would play the second-striker role as a trequartista rather than level with Costa. He would have his usual amount of freedom to roam, while Costa maintained as the more traditional centre-forward.

Hazard would flourish in that role alongside Michy Batshuayi or Romelu Lukaku if Costa was injured or resting. He could play more “selfishly” with his compatriots on the pitch than Costa.

Must Read: Choosing Chelsea's next striker: Belotti, Lukaku or Morata?

Batshuayi and Lukaku clean up loose balls in front of goal more effectively than Costa. Hazard will be more inclined to take more shots, knowing that they do not have to be perfect. Rather than always maneuvering in search of the absolute perfect shooting lane, he can fire from all angles confident that one of the Belgian rebound poachers is lurking in front.

Alvaro Morata is a stronger choice for Chelsea, but Costa spoke well of Lukaku as his future teammate / replacement. “I hope he can sign at Chelsea because it’s a unique club.” As with everything Costa says or does regarding his future at Chelsea, his motivations are cloudy at best.

Costa may cheer on a Lukaku transfer for two reasons. First, Lukaku is more expensive. If Chelsea purchase him they may be more inclined to sell Costa (to Atletico, of course) in order to afford the Belgian.

Second, Costa may recognize that Morata is a greater threat to Costa’s spot in the starting XI. Chelsea could afford to buy and keep Morata and Costa. Morata’s abilities and attitude could send Costa to the bench, particularly if Morata definitely quick chemistry with Eden Hazard.

However the situation shakes out, given the personalities involved, it is difficult to see a roundly satisfying solution. Jose Mourinho may hold the key to the whole situation. If he persuades Manchester United to buy Antoine Griezmann for a massive fee, then Atletico can afford Costa.

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Some day, Chelsea will be free of Jose Mourinho’s and Diego Costa’s shadows. Not quite yet, though.