Azpilicueta: Costa the key at Chelsea

If ever Chelsea need a barometer of how they’re playing, they need look no further than Diego Costa according to Spanish team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.

Costa backed up a double for Spain in their 8-0 drubbing of Lichtenstein with two goals for Chelsea as they came from behind to draw with Swansea and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Mistakes from Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill had let Swansea into the game, but thankfully Costa was on hand to save Antonio Conte’s blushes.

(photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

The 27-year-old leads the way for Premier League goals this season, his four goals leaving him level with West Ham’s Michail Antonio and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

If Azpilicueta is to be believed then that is a sign that Chelsea are in rude health under Conte.

“His work [in training] is reflected in the games. He is scoring a lot of goals for us. He works very hard for the team, he makes a lot of movement and he is a big part of our team,” the 17-cap international said.

“We are happy he is scoring goals, because if he is scoring goals it seems we are doing the right thing and he is getting the chance to score.”