You might think nine would be today’s magic number, given that Chelsea have extended the winning streak to nine games and Costa has extended his equally impressive personal streak of not getting a yellow card for nine league games, but it’s another number that’s perhaps even more significant for both club and player.
12- Chelsea have now won the the same amount of premier league game as they did all last season #CFC pic.twitter.com/U2QQoqOETJ
— CarefreeYouth (@CarefreeYouth) December 11, 2016
The 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion is Chelsea’s twelfth of the 2016-17 Premier League season, or the same as we won in all of last season.
Meanwhile, the goal scored by Diego Costa was his twelfth of the 2016-17 Premier League season, or the same amount as he scored all of last season.
Diego Costa...
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 11, 2016
2015/16: 12 league goals
2016/17: 12 goals already...
The Chelsea striker is back to his best ➡️ https://t.co/0lI9bPQRGx pic.twitter.com/FddKiSqWB5
The best part is that Costa doesn’t even believe he’s in top form. Always improve, right Antonio? Here’s Cesc Fàbregas translating for Costa in BT Sport’s post-match interview.
“He feels he's in great form but not the best ... so I wouldn't like to see his best to be honest because he's playing outstanding. But he says that the best way to attack is to defend well and at the moment we're doing it.”
"Yes, they had a few chances at the beginning, but he feels the team is very, very compact and very well organised and that makes it easier for the way we attack."
-Diego Costa via Cesc Fàbregas; source: ESPN
With another game coming in just a few days, we’ll need both Costa and Cesc to continue contributing in key moments.