For all the hype surrounding Eden Hazard, Diego Costa’s return to form has been absolutely key to Chelsea’s resurgence.
The Spain international has hit 14 goals and assisted another five this season, stats which have made him crucial to Antonio Conte’s attack.
Blues fans won’t have forgotten that it could all have been very different, though, with the 28-year-old linked with a move away in the summer.
Costa disappointed last term, and while most Chelsea players were below par – hence their 10th-placed finish – his lack of goals was undoubtedly a big issue.
You can hardly blame him for jumping at the chance to rejoin Diego Simeone, with the Argentine having made him his number one target at Atletico Madrid.
As his continued presence at Chelsea suggests, however, a deal never materialised.
The Londoners were not willing to sell, but that’s not to say the striker himself wasn’t open to a return to the Vicente Calderon.
“Yes, yes. I was about to leave,” he admitted, via the Sun.
“I had the possibility to go to Atletico because of a few things — the family, the life I have there — but not because of Chelsea.
“Here, there’s a lot of love with the supporters, with the people, so I’m very happy here, I’m very content.”
It sounds like a move back to La Liga could one day be on the cards, but Conte can probably rest easy for now.
The Chelsea boss has convinced several players to stay at Stamford Bridge by way of his vision, and it looks as if they are to be rewarded with another Premier League title if they keep up their current form.
They have now won 13 games in a row, though they will come up against one of their toughest tests yet with a trip to Tottenham on Wednesday.
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