Chelsea reaping benefits from calm Costa

Diego Costa may be known as the Premier League’s biggest hothead, but the Chelsea striker insists a calmer approach has done wonders for his game this season.

Since arriving in England three years ago, Costa has attracted plenty of publicity for a series of off-the-ball incidents – including stamping and biting.

Opposition teams have made it their business to wind up the 28-year-old, but this season he has refrained from retaliating.

This has paid dividends of the pitch, with his 17 goals proving crucial to Chelsea’s seemingly unstoppable march to a second title in three seasons.

“The suspensions I received made me reflect,” he said

“I stopped and thought about it. I realised I was the only one losing out at the end of the day.

“Back then sometimes I thought the suspension was unfair and that I was right and the others were wrong, that they were exaggerating.

“But either way I was always losing out. So it was a question of either letting them send me out all the time or changing, because with no change from my part I would never be playing, never enjoying.

“So I decided to avoid arguments with referees, with players from the other teams. I just knew they would not let the slightest thing pass, not with me.”