Alvaro Morata banishes Diego Costa to Chelsea history

Diego Costa was back in the headlines this week, but Alvaro Morata emphatically moved Chelsea on with a hat-trick against Stoke City.

Who needs Diego Costa? Having finally closed the chapter on the Diego Costa era, Chelsea dispatched Stoke City with a statement performance. Moreover, Alvaro Morata bagged a hat-trick to prove that despite Costa’s efforts for the Blues, the 24-year-old is the present and the future.

Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas were left out of the starting line-up, supposedly indicating that the Blues would be lacking in the creativity department. However, Morata stepped up to the plate to help Chelsea put away the Potters in some style.

The Costa saga threatened to end Chelsea’s season before it had even started. The Blues repeatedly failed to sign a replacement striker. As the deadline approached, they have finally agreed a deal for Morata.

However, there were concerns about his signing. Morata was not starting for Real Madrid so Chelsea were taking a gamble on his potential.

The Spaniard, though, has hit the ground running in the Premier League. His hat-trick against Stoke brought his tally for the campaign to six goals in six games. He has shown off his ability to score with his head, but all three of his efforts on Saturday came via his feet.

Morata may not offer the physicality that Costa does, but he is proving to be as big a handful for opposition defences. His movement and pace has given Chelsea different attacking options. He scored via a long ball over the top, on the back of a impressive dribble and as a poacher. This versatility is what makes him so dangerous.

The hat-trick could not have been better timed, either. With Costa finally on his way back to Atletico Madrid, there was an eagerness to move swiftly on. Costa had been a star for the Blues in their two most recent Premier League title wins. However, the situation was untenable and needed to be resolved as soon as possible.

While the past few days have been filled with people reminiscing about Costa’s good times at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea needed to focus on the task at hand. Both Manchester clubs are threatening to run away with the crown so the pressure is on the Blues to keep within touching distance.

Next: Diego Costa’s top 10 goals for Chelsea

Morata helped Chelsea banish Costa to the history books. Hopefully, Costa and Chelsea can now continue on their own paths with success.