COSTA SPARKS TREBLE BID
Douglas ‘The Flash’ Costa owes his nickname not only to his thunderbolt haircut but also to his lightning speed and dribbling skills which are driving Juventus’s treble bid.
The 27-year-old ex-Bayern Munich winger is coming into his own at his new club as the sixtime Italian champions look to keep their bid for titles burning on three fronts.
Juventus — with a game in hand — are just one point behind Napoli in the Serie A title race, but are also through to their fourth straight Italian Cup final largely thanks to Costa’s skills.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side next head to Wembley Stadium for Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 second leg tie against Tottenham Hotspur with the tie finely balanced 2-2.
Juventus — who lifted the European Cup in 1985 and 1996 — have been losing finalists in Europe’s elite competition twice in the past three editions.
This year’s quest remains in the balance after Allegri’s side threw away a two-goal lead earned by Gonzalo Higuain’s double in the opening nine minutes of the first leg in Turin last month.
Allegri has heaped praise on Costa, who has in recent months provided game-changing speed down the wing and been a thorn in the side of opposition defences.
“Costa was excellent — at both ends of the pitch,” said Allegri after the Brazilian’s performance in inflicting a first defeat of the season on Napoli in December.
The Brazilian again shone in the Italian Cup semi-final against Atalanta last month, as Juventus booked a place in the final against AC Milan.
“Costa put himself behind the centre forward and that broke the game open,” enthused Allegri.
Costa moved to Turin initially on loan with option to buy from Bayern Munich in a record 46 million euro deal for the German club last summer, in what was seen as a last-gasp bid to revive his career for the World Cup in Russia.
He has scored three goals and made six assists in 31 appearances for Juventus.
Since he has stepped up during a tricky period for the champions’ with injuries to top players including Federico Bernardeschi, Higuain and Paulo Dybala.
Higuain remains in doubt for London because of a persistent left ankle pain, but Dybala has returned and scored the winner against Lazio at the weekend, in a three-pronged attack which included Costa and Alex Sandro.
“I’m improving with the team and the time I set for myself in Italian football which has been something new to me,” said Costa. “I’ve grown tactically and technically.” Capped 22 times with three goals for Brazil, Costa has also worked his way back after his international career had stalled by persistent injuries.
Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino faces a defining moment as the Tottenham boss aims to joins the managerial elite by masterminding a famous Champions League triumph against Juventus.
Long regarded as one of the sport’s brightest young managers, Pochettino can use this season’s Champions League to reach the rarified air inhabited by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone. Like his former Argentina team-mate Simeone, Pochettino is coveted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
But while Simeone has defied the odds to lead Atletico Madrid to La Liga and Europa League titles, as well as reaching two Champions League finals, Pochettino is still waiting for his breakthrough moment.
Despite earning plaudits throughout his nine-year managerial career with Espanyol, Southampton and now Tottenham, the 46-year-old has failed to lead any of his clubs to a major trophy.
Clearly, silverware isn’t the only measure of a manager and no one would doubt Pochettino overachieved at Espanyol and Southampton given the lack of financial backing available.—