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Diego Costa is still the ultimate villain and that's great for the Premier League
The Premier League season is a mere two weeks old, but we already have far and away the best villain of the season: Chelsea's Diego Costa. Even if all of his past transgressions (and there are plenty) are forgotten, Costa stands alone atop the ladder of most reviled players thus far.
In back-to-back matches to start the 2016/17 season, Costa has scored a late, match-deciding goal to give Chelsea a victory despite arguably having no business being on the pitch. Just two weeks into the season and West Ham and Watford can both feel they were cheated out of points by the Brazilian-born Spaniard.
In the Blues' season-opener against West Ham on Monday, Costa wasted little time picking up his first yellow of the season. Oscar took a tumble in the box against the Hammers, but referee Anthony Taylor saw no basis to call a penalty kick. An irate Costa sprinted toward Taylor to contest the decision and was rightfully shown yellow under the EPL's emphasis on kiboshing players confronting referees. Less than 20 minutes into the season, Costa had his first caution for dissent.
Diego Costa hands @ChelseaFC the win! #PLonNBC https://t.co/ABmlrKWCs4
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 15, 2016
In the 67th, Costa dove in on a ball at Adrian's feet, raking a boot down the West Ham keeper's shin. Taylor kept the card in his pocket, but there'd be little sympathy if Costa were shown a second yellow and given an early shower. After James Collins answered Eden Hazard's earlier penalty with an equalizer in the 77th minute, West Ham looked set for a draw. But it was Costa, the man given a second life, that spoiled West Ham's day, smacking home the winner in the 89th minute.
Fast forward to Saturday's match against Watford, and the script is eerily similar. Costa was shown a yellow for dissent, and escaped another caution-worthy offense for a blatant dive around the 66th minute. Lucky to still be on the pitch, Costa then broke the 1-1 tie with an 87th-minute goal and Chelsea took all three points.
Diego Costa scores late game-winner for @ChelseaFC in the second straight week! #PLonNBC https://t.co/YiYDPLdR7z
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 20, 2016
The beauty of Costa's villainy is that it's actually good for the Premier League. For the casual observer, a league filled with heroes and straight-laced characters is a boring league. La Liga's biggest draw is that Barcelona and Lionel Messi fans view Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo and the sum of all evil, and vice versa. Having a foe so universally loathed as Costa gives people someone to root against, which is a powerful feeling.
While sure, West Ham and Watford will feel hard done by falling victim to a player that arguably shouldn't have even been playing, that's tough luck. Now, both sides have extra motivation to return the favor against Costa and Chelsea in their second meetings. Furthermore, players and fans can circle the date on their calendar for when they'll face the Premier League's bad boy.
The first team to goad Costa into a red card will probably be thrown a parade. His constant envelope-pushing and flirtation with danger means it's just a matter of time until he finally steps over the edge. At the very least, he's on track to be suspended for yellow card accumulation in Chelsea's fifth match. That's a feat in and of itself.
But Costa's brand is irritation, and he never strays from it. Even if you tune in just to hate him, you can't help but watch him.
That's exactly the kind of attention the Premier League thrives on.
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