As Liverpool struggle for goals £21m summer target matches Messi
Replacing a player of Radamel Falcao’s quality was always going to be difficult for Atletico Madrid, if not entirely impossible, given their budgetary constraints.
It looked like landing David Villa for a bargain price this summer was probably as close as they were going to get, though even then, considering the Asturian’s age and previous injury problems, optimism was somewhat tempered.
As it turned out, Diego Simeone need not have worried. The man he was looking for was already in his squad, already scoring big goals and, in a way, already warming up for a starring role while still in Falcao’s shadow. Yet had Liverpool got their way, he wouldn’t be there at all.
Fortunately for Atletico, Diego Costa wasn’t interested in swapping the Vicente Calderon for Anfield. He hasn’t looked back since.
The story of Costa’s rise to the top of the pile with Atleti isn’t a typical one. The Brazilian has been on Los Rojiblancos’ books in some way or another since 2007, yet the frequency and ease with which he was bounced around on loan after loan by the club hardly sent strong signals about his future at the Calderon.
As one El Pais journalist aptly put it to him, this season is the first one in which Costa has actually known the club he would be playing for from day one. The striker agreed, noting that it had given him more 'tranquilidad' – tranquillity, peace, or calmness, and allowed him to enjoy his holidays for once. Judging by his form, it’s paying off.
Only one other forward in La Liga can match Costa this season, and if you’re going to be matched by one other forward, it might as well be Lionel Messi. Both have scored seven goals in five La Liga games, and like Messi, the Brazilian is proving to be absolutely unplayable.
It is striking how when he receives the ball these days Costa seems to be teasing the opposition, as if to say ‘go on, try and take it back’, before wriggling out of the way, twisting and turning them inside out. Add to that an incredibly sharp finishing touch that is improving by the game – Costa has scored 20 goals in 28 appearances since the Copa del Rey match against Betis on 24 January – and the only phrase apt enough to describe him now is jugadorazo. Roughly translated, a bloody brilliant player.
He doesn’t just score goals, he scores great goals. There have been a handful this season already. His first, on the opening day of the season against Sevilla, showed just how heightened his reactions are at the moment, volleying in a corner perfectly with only a split second to do so.
His second on that same night is already becoming something of a trademark for the Brazilian, picking up the ball in the inside right channel, driving forward and shrugging off his marker then placing his finish perfectly in the back of the net.
Physically imposing, he’s good in the air, too. Watch his second goal against Osasuna this week and note how he pushes away his marker with the utmost disregard before rising high to head in what would prove to be the winner. He even takes penalties now, putting one away against Almeria with the kind of composure only a player in unstoppable form can show.
To date, the greatest of them all was that goal against Real Madrid. The Santiago Bernabeu, the Copa del Rey final, 34 minutes gone and already 1-0 down, more not so glorious failure for Atleti on the cards. Another season of hurt. Except Costa had a different idea.
Darting in between Sergio Ramos and Michael Essien, he bore down on the box, shrugged off a protruding arm from the on-loan Chelsea man, then thundered a shot into the corner beyond the reach of Diego Lopez. It was the beginning of nothing short of an historic comeback, Atleti’s first win over Madrid for 14 years. In a cup final, on the enemy's soil, no less.
It could very well have been his last major contribution for them had he entertained Liverpool’s advances in the summer. The Reds were willing to pay €24m for the man that helped topple Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid. Initially, Costa feigned interest, but in reality he played Atleti perfectly, using the Liverpool offer to ensure a new deal with the Spanish club that would improve his salary.
Often painted as a slimey, disingenuous fellow on the pitch, sometimes with good reason, his character, as it turns out, wasn’t all negative after all. Yes, he used the suggestion of leaving to gain a better contract, but crucially, he chose to stay, rather than jump ship. Considering Atletico supporters have had to become accustomed to seeing their stars move on, that should mean a lot.
"After fighting so much and getting over so many struggles to win a place with Atletico, how could I have left?" he told Mundo Deportivo. Diego Simeone must be eternally grateful that his decision wasn’t different.
It looked like landing David Villa for a bargain price this summer was probably as close as they were going to get, though even then, considering the Asturian’s age and previous injury problems, optimism was somewhat tempered.
As it turned out, Diego Simeone need not have worried. The man he was looking for was already in his squad, already scoring big goals and, in a way, already warming up for a starring role while still in Falcao’s shadow. Yet had Liverpool got their way, he wouldn’t be there at all.
Fortunately for Atletico, Diego Costa wasn’t interested in swapping the Vicente Calderon for Anfield. He hasn’t looked back since.
The story of Costa’s rise to the top of the pile with Atleti isn’t a typical one. The Brazilian has been on Los Rojiblancos’ books in some way or another since 2007, yet the frequency and ease with which he was bounced around on loan after loan by the club hardly sent strong signals about his future at the Calderon.
As one El Pais journalist aptly put it to him, this season is the first one in which Costa has actually known the club he would be playing for from day one. The striker agreed, noting that it had given him more 'tranquilidad' – tranquillity, peace, or calmness, and allowed him to enjoy his holidays for once. Judging by his form, it’s paying off.
Only one other forward in La Liga can match Costa this season, and if you’re going to be matched by one other forward, it might as well be Lionel Messi. Both have scored seven goals in five La Liga games, and like Messi, the Brazilian is proving to be absolutely unplayable.
It is striking how when he receives the ball these days Costa seems to be teasing the opposition, as if to say ‘go on, try and take it back’, before wriggling out of the way, twisting and turning them inside out. Add to that an incredibly sharp finishing touch that is improving by the game – Costa has scored 20 goals in 28 appearances since the Copa del Rey match against Betis on 24 January – and the only phrase apt enough to describe him now is jugadorazo. Roughly translated, a bloody brilliant player.
He doesn’t just score goals, he scores great goals. There have been a handful this season already. His first, on the opening day of the season against Sevilla, showed just how heightened his reactions are at the moment, volleying in a corner perfectly with only a split second to do so.
His second on that same night is already becoming something of a trademark for the Brazilian, picking up the ball in the inside right channel, driving forward and shrugging off his marker then placing his finish perfectly in the back of the net.
Physically imposing, he’s good in the air, too. Watch his second goal against Osasuna this week and note how he pushes away his marker with the utmost disregard before rising high to head in what would prove to be the winner. He even takes penalties now, putting one away against Almeria with the kind of composure only a player in unstoppable form can show.
To date, the greatest of them all was that goal against Real Madrid. The Santiago Bernabeu, the Copa del Rey final, 34 minutes gone and already 1-0 down, more not so glorious failure for Atleti on the cards. Another season of hurt. Except Costa had a different idea.
Darting in between Sergio Ramos and Michael Essien, he bore down on the box, shrugged off a protruding arm from the on-loan Chelsea man, then thundered a shot into the corner beyond the reach of Diego Lopez. It was the beginning of nothing short of an historic comeback, Atleti’s first win over Madrid for 14 years. In a cup final, on the enemy's soil, no less.
It could very well have been his last major contribution for them had he entertained Liverpool’s advances in the summer. The Reds were willing to pay €24m for the man that helped topple Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid. Initially, Costa feigned interest, but in reality he played Atleti perfectly, using the Liverpool offer to ensure a new deal with the Spanish club that would improve his salary.
Often painted as a slimey, disingenuous fellow on the pitch, sometimes with good reason, his character, as it turns out, wasn’t all negative after all. Yes, he used the suggestion of leaving to gain a better contract, but crucially, he chose to stay, rather than jump ship. Considering Atletico supporters have had to become accustomed to seeing their stars move on, that should mean a lot.
"After fighting so much and getting over so many struggles to win a place with Atletico, how could I have left?" he told Mundo Deportivo. Diego Simeone must be eternally grateful that his decision wasn’t different.
Read more at http://talksport.com/football/liverpool-struggle-goals-ps21m-summer-target-matches-messi-13092661599#QIPiMCLhwMusoD4a.99
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