Danny Mills: This striker was as important to Chelsea as Didier Drogba
Danny Mills believes Chelsea are missing Diego Costa's presence in Antonio Conte's team
Danny Mills believes Diego Costa was equally as important to Chelsea as Didier Drogba.
The Blues made the decision to allow Costa to return to Atletico Madrid on loan with view to a permanent deal at the end of the season.
Chelsea signed Alvaro Morata in a £58m deal from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window to bolster their attacking options.
While the Spanish forward has scored nine times in the Premier League so far this season, Chelsea have missed Costa’s aggressive approach up front.
The controversial centre-forward scored 40 times in Chelsea’s title-winning campaigns in 2014-15 and 2016-17.
Former Man City defender Mills believes Costa’s influence on the Chelsea team could be equated to Drogba, who was a force of nature during his pomp in the Premier League.
“Morata has done great but when you take Costa out of the team it’s like when Drogba used to be missing in the Chelsea team,” Mills told BBC Radio 5 Live.
You didn’t care who else was playing up front because no one else is going to give you the problems Drogba would give you.
“You knew your day would be a little bit easier.”
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.
