The Borneo Post

Costa’s return to form gives Chelsea new momentum in title bid

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LONDON: The central role that Diego Costa played in Chelsea’s 4- 2 win over Southampto­n on Tuesday suggests the Premier League leaders are going into the season’s climax firing on all cylinders again.

Costa broke a run of five league games without a goal as he scored twice in the second half against the Saints, racking up his 50th and 51st Premier League strikes for the Londoners.

The combative Spain striker also created the opener when he cleverly dragged a pass back into the path of Eden Hazard to put Chelsea 1- 0 up in the fifth minute.

It was the sharpest performanc­e in several weeks from Costa who started this season strongly and scored 13 times in the league before Christmas but who had only found the net four times since then, until he claimed his brace on Tuesday.

The slump in Costa’s form coincided with speculatio­n at the start of 2017 that the often tempestuou­s striker was on the verge of signing a lucrative

Now he must continue. It is very important for his confidence, for us, also because he scored two really important goals but also two beautiful goals after combinatio­ns which showed good ... coordinati­on between him and his team mates. Antonio Conte, Chelsea coach

contract with a club in China’s burgeoning Super League.

The Brazi lian- born Costa remains a firm favourite with the Stamford Bridge fans who chanted his name throughout Tuesday’s win just as they did during his recent lean spell.

But it wasn’t always so. After a rampant first season in England in 2014/15 when he scored 20 league goals for Chelsea, Costa was among the players who most openly clashed with then manager Jose Mourinho last season and angry fans booed him after Mourinho was fired.

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte told reporters on Tuesday he had always been sure that Costa would find the net again after a run of bad luck in recent games.

“Now he must continue. It is very important for his confidence, for us, also because he scored two really important goals but also two beautiful goals after combinatio­ns which showed good ... coordinati­on between him and his team mates,” he said.

Asked about the persistent speculatio­n that Costa might leave Chelsea after the current season, Conte said such talk seemed to be an attempt to distract his players from their target of winning the title.

“We must be stronger than this speculatio­n because we must be compact and think that our target is really important,” the Italian said. — Reuters

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 ??  ?? Chelsea’s Diego Costa (right) scores the third goal during the English Premier League football match against Southampto­n at Stamford Bridge in London. — Reuters photo
Chelsea’s Diego Costa (right) scores the third goal during the English Premier League football match against Southampto­n at Stamford Bridge in London. — Reuters photo

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