Dan Levene compares Diego Costa to the great Didier Drogba - both for better and for worse.
Stamford Bridge groaned at one of its own as the crowd lost its patience with Chelsea striker of proven ability and his tiresome antics.
No, not Diego Costa: this was 25th March 2006, and the focus of
the ire Didier Drogba. Almost a decade on, however, and the reigning
champions' crowd reflected that moment of utmost frustration with its
latest in-house irritant.
Back in Mourinho's
first spell, that moment with the Man Who Would Be King focused on the
Ivorian's gamesmanship, diving in the box and getting away with a
handball; on Saturday against Norwich it was Costa's poor positioning and lackadaisical play that riled the faithful.
The record books will show that Costa's goal - a well taken pinpoint strike across John Ruddy's target - was what gave Chelsea a very sorely needed three points following three straight league defeats.
But Costa's game, for the most part was abject.
Chelsea's Diego Costa in action with Norwich's Sebastien Bassong and Gary O'Neil - Reuters
The moment that so annoyed at Stamford Bridge on Saturday was a finely-crafted cross from a rejuvenated Eden Hazard to where the target man might usually be expected to dwell.
The Spanish international, however, was back in the 'D' of the
box – acting as if playing number 10 was one better than his own posting
of number nine.
It would have been a great position for the Frank Lampard
of yore – awaiting the second ball, the deflection, the clearance – but
not for Diego Costa, the man whose poaching and defence-harrying skills
are so great that Chelsea were acclaimed to have bagged a bargain when
they forked-out £32m for him.
It was as if Mourinho needed to take his centre forward back to
basics, to explain that the words 'centre' and 'forward' were of equal
importance in his job title.
As the twin incidents with Drogba and Costa proved, 10 seasons
apart, there are two things Stamford Bridge knows it doesn't like: a
cheat, and a non-tryer.
Drogba was rarely accused of not trying, but the gamesmanship in
his locker that led his own supporters to say enough was enough was
pretty quickly ditched after that moment.
That's not to say that he never once dived or feigned injury
again, but the supporters seemed to be content to tolerate those things
so long as they didn't overshadow real ability.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba celebrates his goal on Marh 25th, 2006 - Reuters
Costa's problem, until recently, was believed to be similar: the
tricks of the trade eclipsing the ability we all know he has.
But, against Norwich we did see that ultimate of offences in the
eyes of the fans: the player who clearly doesn't want to be there.
The shoulders went down, even the arguments with opponents
became half-hearted, and the failure to shift gear when it mattered was
the straw that broke the camel's back.
When the goal came, of course, it was a beauty: almost perfectly
taken, and picking out the far corner in a way few would be able to
stop.
Only 'almost' perfect, though. There was a brief hesitation
before striking, prompting 40,000 half-gasps, all fearing this might be
another case of what golfers call The Yips. But the ball found the net.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa celebrates scoring on 21st November 2015 - Reuters
Drogba, initially defensive about his antics being "part of the
game" in that match, where he scored the only two to sink Manchester City, quickly saw better of it.
So will Costa? The goal, muted celebration and all, clearly added confidence to his game.
He is just one of a number of players in Mourinho's current
charge who need to be reprogrammed, to remember what he is supposed to
be doing.
Players often say that they block out the sounds of the crowd –
ignoring the intended offence of the paying public. But what if that
offence is from your own, and aimed at improving the game of the
individual and the team?
Drogba was smart enough to understand the value of that. We will have to wait and see if the same is true of Costa.
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