Diego Costa’s Bromance with Coach Antonio Conte Is Driving Chelsea’s Success

It was a moment to warm the soul on a miserably dank early afternoon in south London.

Diego Costa had just scored his 13th Premier League goal in 17 matches for Chelsea this season and, after celebrating with his team-mates, ran over to the dugout to embrace his manager, Antonio Conte. Their hug would only last a short moment, but in those few seconds, we saw exactly what it is that has inspired Costa to propel Chelsea back to top of the Premier League this term.

The striker is in love with his manager and this time it isn’t unrequited; Conte feels exactly the same way about him.

Let’s be frank—without a goalscorer of Costa’s talents, Conte’s famed 3-4-3 system wouldn’t be what it is. There are many components that make it work, yet to be fully effective, it requires a striker who isn’t goal shy.

Costa has directly won Chelsea a staggering 16 points this season. That’s over one third of their 43-point tally thus far. He’s won the Blues matches against West Ham United, Watford, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and now Crystal Palace. Back in September, he rescued a point in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City.

Of course, we’re not mentioning his exploits against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, where Costa was heavily involved in the Blues overcoming direct rivals in the title race as they chalked up the wins to record 11 in a row (and counting), dating back to early October.

On the back of a season where his application and efforts were questioned, Costa’s reminding us now of what a supreme talent he is. He’s proving there isn’t a better striker in the English game. At this moment, with him topping the scoring charts, there isn’t a better goalscorer, either.

For a player like Costa, whose reputation has been built around his physical prowess and perceived attempts to flout the laws of the game, that it is something as divine as love that …

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