Chelsea Tactics and Transfers: Alvaro Morata displays pure professionalism

Chelsea triumphed over Stoke 4-0 in what was perhaps the most convincing display of the season so far. Stoke are a solid physical team who earned points against both Manchester United and Arsenal. This was a good test and a good result.

The strength of the Premier League lies not in its superpowers but in its mid-table clubs. Every league in Europe has a few elite teams at the top, but few have a solid base of 10 teams in the middle who can – on their day – take points from any of the upper teams.

Stoke are famously a great example of one of those teams. They have developed an identity centered almost entirely on their role as scalp-hunters in the Premier League. They have taken points from every member of the “big six” on a regular basis.

Chelsea can therefore be very proud of their result against Stoke. A 4-0 victory is a resounding one, and away from home no less. Chelsea need to be strong on the road this season with the two Manchester teams already establishing such high levels at this early stage. The team that stumbles the most away from home will lose the title first.

Must Read: Three lessons Chelsea should learn to never repeat the Diego Costa situation

Alvaro Morata has proven himself to be an excellent professional. The barometer still stands, though, of a good complete season. Adrian Mutu was phenomenal in his early matches, as was Hernan Crespo. A full season of success and 20 goals is the benchmark for success.

What is good to note with Alvaro Morata is that he is the polar opposite of Diego Costa. Where Costa was a snarling animal in all moments, even off the pitch, Morata is a calm, cool and collected professional. That is why I am anointing him the nickname Alvaro “The Professional” Morata.  He is very obviously a player of great intelligence, one who cut his teeth in the footballing worlds of Real Madrid and Juventus.

He handles himself as well on the pitch as he does in the press and on social media. Alvaro Morata is exactly the kind of professional player that Chelsea need to start moving towards. It is easy to see why Antonio Conte has signed him twice. He is far more physical than he would appear, he is a clinical finisher and an all-around professional. He has exactly the sort of attitude that a club needs to have its big players built around.

That is what makes Costa’s situation so sad. He is a phenomenal footballer who seems to almost undo all his hard work – and there is a substantial amount of it on the pitch – with his unbelievable attitudinal issues. Antonio Conte ultimately decided that Costa’s 20 goals were not worth his attitude.

Can you imagine? A 20 goal per year forward can generally get away with anything. Luiz Suarez bit people and it did not really matter. Players get all sorts of arrests and misdemeanors. Driving infractions and bar fights happen. They get caught in embarrassing and compromising situations and have them bandied about in the newspaper. So long as they are good, their clubs seem to forget whatever they have done wrong.

Must Read: Eden Hazard's selfless play belongs at Chelsea, sets him apart from Real and PSG

Diego Costa was excellent, and yet such a nuisance that his own manager decided to significantly rebuild rather than continue on with him. Costa will someday learn that he as his own greatest enemy. Maybe he will regret some of these choices and actions.

Chelsea pulled off excellent business to somehow almost double the amount of money that they paid for Costa to sell him back to the same club. That, if anything, is a sign of the inflation in the transfer market. Chelsea were in perhaps the weakest negotiation position ever: the player was three years older, Atletico have a transfer embargo and know they are the only club Costa will play for? Whatever sorcery Chelsea pulled off in that negotiation needs to be celebrated.

If Chelsea can bury this saga now it will be best for all parties. In the end Costa won two league titles at Chelsea and scored 52 goals in 89 Premier League games. That is a great record. Chelsea should be grateful for what he did and remember how things are now. Chelsea are better off without Diego Costa and he is better off without Chelsea.

Next: Chelsea's predicted XI vs. Atletico: Believe in Gary Cahill, not the rumours

Besides, the Blues nicked a quick couple of quid on him anyway.  Can’t be too bothered, can ya?