Danny Mills: Alvaro Morata is great, but Chelsea still miss this player
The former Man City defender believes Chelsea aren't the same team without Diego Costa
Chelsea still miss Diego Costa despite Alvaro Morata’s impact at Stamford Bridge, Danny Mills has claimed.
The Blues won the Premier League title in the 2016-17 season thanks in part to Costa’s return of 20 goals under Antonio Conte.
Chelsea made the decision to sign Morata in a 58m deal from La Liga giants Real Madrid in the summer transfer window to improve their options up front.
Costa was permitted to move to Atletico Madrid on loan despite the Spanish forward scored 40 goals in their title-winning seasons in 2015 and 2017.
Morata has scored nine Premier League goals in his Chelsea career so far, but the 24-year-old lacks Costa’s combative nature despite being an elegant goal-scorer.
Former Manchester City defender Mills believes Chelsea are missing Costa’s nastiness up front this season.
“They miss Diego Costa. Morata doesn’t give them the same nastiness and energy up front,” Mills told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Morata scored his first Chelsea hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Stoke City back at the end of September.
The Spain international scored a second-half winner in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over bitter title rivals Manchester United at Stamford Bridge at the end of October.
Morata has won two La Liga titles, two Serie A titles and two Champions League crowns in a glittering career so far.
