Right now, you have to regard Diego Costa in the top three of the best finishers in the world. His record for Chelsea at the moment is outstanding, and he's been winning them games.
He has also improved greatly as a player and has become a very smart lone striker who knows how to hold the ball up, get fouls by being clever with his movement but also deliver for his team, making the right moves in order to get the winning goal.
And he has scored some beauties.
So just think....imagine if he remained at Atletico and was as good as we see him now?
I remember when Costa was talked about during his time with Atletico and in all honesty, I didn't see what the big deal was. Yeah, he got some goals, but in the games that I saw him play, all I saw was a pretty standard striker. Nothing special.
It reminded me of another Atletico alum, Falcao. So much hype about him being one of the best strikers in the world, but I never saw a player that justified such praise. Much like Costa.
What would have happened if he was fit for that final showdown with their local rivals Real Madrid?
A strong case could be made, in a match which Atletico controlled, they would have gotten the second killer goal with Costa on the pitch and won the game.
However, I want to talk about the Diego Costa we see now. Back then in 2014, I would not have put him as one of the best strikers in the world. Maybe top seven or top eight, but no way in the top five or three.
The Costa of 2016, who is so vital for Chelsea and has greatly improved his all round game, is easily a top three striker. The top three in no order will have to be him, Aubameyang, and perhaps the Uruguyan individual who eats people.
What was missing from his game was the quality he had on the ball. Before he was just a pure finisher, and got himself in the right places to end of a move. He showed no real finesse or ability when the ball was at his feet and looked very awkward when trying to dribble. Now though, he can receive the ball and use his brains to get past players or be cunning enough to draw a foul.
And he has developed some nice skills that his Brazilian heritage demands.
You have to remember that after central-midfield, the next hardest position to play is probably the lone striker. Having to be effective when you are out all alone and always outnumbered, is very hard. Costa is doing that brilliantly, and has put himself on the map as one of the best in that position.
Atletico would have finished off what they came so close to doing in 2014, and become champions of Europe.
Or even won the trophy in the first place when they first met Real.
Simeone's team has everything. A very solid goalkeeper, hardworking defence, a dependable defensive midfielder, some of the best creative players you can find; but all they are missing is that icing on the cake which is a finisher.
You put the Costa we see for Chelsea into the Atletico team, and they are easily one of the best teams in the world. And having Costa makes them far more likely to win a final, and go on long unbeaten runs to win a league.
It goes back to my annoyance with club football, which is that the smaller teams who find and groom really good players should be allowed to keep them which would make for better competition.
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