Marcos Alonso backs ‘big game’ Diego Costa ahead of Manchester United showdown

Diego Costa may be going through a bit of a scoring drought lately, but as Marcos Alonso tells it, the center forward’s impact is so much more than the goals he (usually) provides for the team.

“Diego has a great personality and is very good for the group. He is a very important player, not just outside on the pitch but also inside the dressing room. He is a great character.”

Before David Luiz came back to Chelsea at the start of the season, Diego Costa was picked out almost unilaterally as the biggest practical joker of the dressing room. He may not know English, but apparently that has not hindered him in his efforts to endear himself to the team. So that part is certainly good. The recent lack of goals and rather terrible finishing is less good, but given his track record, it’s probably just a short-term affliction.

“Diego has been massive for Chelsea this season. He has almost scored 20 [current tally is 18] goals and that is a significant contribution. But it’s not just about that, with the way we play, he is very important. He had another couple of chances to score against Bournemouth but no doubt next week, he’ll be there again.”

Next is nothing less than Manchester United away at Old Trafford, a stadium where Costa has yet to play. He missed Chelsea’s game there in 2014-15 due to injury and last season due to suspension.

“Is he a big game player? Yes. Manchester United is going to be a tough game for us but it doesn’t matter who scores, hopefully we will get the three points. We have a week to rest a little bit and then prepare, that’s what we have to be focused on these days.”

-Marcos Alonso; source: Evening Standard

Three points is all that matters at the end of the day, this is true, but a Costa goal against United would go some ways towards turning the conversation around him back to a more positive one than we’ve seen recently.