If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again. Therefore, at £32m, Diego Costa is something of a risk. Hernan Crespo, Andriy Shevchenko and, most recently, Fernando Torres. Due to fitness, form or a frustratingly unfamiliar system, Chelsea have frequently failed to unlock the potential of their marquee megastars.

Inevitably, the doubters have wasted no time in branding the adopted Spaniard a probable flop, following in the footsteps of Roman Abramovich’s previous bank balance battering forwards. Now that’s harsh. But not without foundation. For Chelsea have history when it comes to demoting prolific marksmen into confidence shorn shadows of past glories. A certain sulking Spaniard comes to mind.

Witnessing a brooding Fernando Torres, all scowls and furrowed brows, slice a more than presentable chance skyward, it’s easy to forget the tsunami of adulation El Nino initiated when he arrived on our shores in 2007. 65 often sensational strikes in merely 102 Premier League games convinced Roman Abramovich to part company with £50m, and an even bigger chunk of his dignity. A record fee. Fast forward four seasons and, in virtually the same number of games, Torres has netted a dismal 20 times. Injuries, a lack of hunger and, most bizarrely of all, the shearing of his trademark blond locks was blamed as Torres toiled. Talk about clutching at straws. We all desperately longed for “the Torres of old”. That now seems light-years away. A memory. A fading hope.

The truth is, Torres was never destined to succeed at Stamford Bridge. The signs were there. Ignored by the big money bully boys, searching desperately for a quick fix. Torres was the answer to all their problems. Or so they thought. Contrasting Liverpool’s high tempo, pass and move philosophy, Chelsea’s measured, ponderous build up play forced Torres to adapt. A dog to water, he initially stayed afloat. But, never a natural habitat, a struggle, a sink was unescapable. At Anfield, Rafa Benitez instructed his Liverpool side to play, first and foremost, to the strengths of his superstar striker. Rapid one touch passing suited Torres down to the ground, enabling Steven Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun and co to release early though balls behind dizzied defenders, safe in the knowledge that Torres, fleet of foot and mind, was always going to make the perfect movement at the perfect time. Explosive. Unstoppable.

Chelsea’s approach, however, meant Torres was never awarded the service his style of play required. Expecting to drop deep and accept balls to feet, Chelsea failed to make the most of the silky Spaniard’s ingenuous movement and supreme dexterity. Attempting to link with midfielders and trequatistas, Torres couldn’t acclimatise. Out of position and out of his depth. Eventually, the untraceable runs behind defenders that made him English footballs most feared forward disappeared. Replaced by an apparently disinterested, often static Torres.

The goalposts don’t move, of course. And, on occasion, Torres appeared to line up a shot akin to a lumbering centre half, almost embarrassed to find himself in such an unfamiliar position, rather than the lean mean goalscoring machine of six summers ago. But football is a psychological game. Confidence is everything. Especially for a striker. A £50m record transfer fee striker at that. And Torres’ general demeanour betrays a man bereft of the belief of his team mates, or his various managers for that matter. From bonafide superstar to washed up has-been, Chelsea must avoid the same mistakes with another former Atletico poster boy.

Now, Diego Costa might not appear the most naturally gifted footballer. And he’s not. Bulky frame, chiselled features, Chelsea’s new hope is not your archetypal modern goalscorer. Deprived of the grace and effortless elegance of Torres, Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero and Radamel Falcao. The Brazilian born battering ram’s Atletico displays were not characterised by moments of rabbit-out-of-the-hat magic or game changing grandeur. Less 25 yard screamers and physics defying free kicks. Less YouTube montages. Instead hard work, discipline and ruthless efficiency spring to mind when witnessing Costa swat aside centre halves with the ease of an ox rampaging through a field of sheep.

Hard work. Discipline. Ruthless efficiency. Remind you of anyone? A certain “special one” perhaps. Yes, the defining principles embodied by Diego Costa are paralleled perfectly by the man who was so determined to bring him to English football. Which, in contrast to Torres, suggests the chances of teething problems are a little more unlikely.

The talisman of Atletico’s unforgettable title triumph, los Colchoneros were frequently and perhaps unfairly referred to as a one man team. Albeit with an incredible team spirit and work ethic. Costa was the indispensable star however, the principle protagonist of Diego Simeone’s inspiring underdog tale. The first name on the team sheet. And, often, the scoreboard. Netting 27 times in La Liga, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi stood in his way of proudly displaying the Pichichi on his spanking new south London mantelpiece. However, to compare Costa with the perma tanned Portuguese and Barcelona’s pint sized phenomenon would be foolhardy. While the Ballon d’Or battlers possess an unrivalled ability to alter, transform, even win games in the blinking of an eye, Costa relies heavily on the competence of his team mates.

As evidenced by Spain’s dismal World Cup defence, the 25 year-old’s natural skill lies some way behind the likes of Neymar and Robin Van Persie. Not so much ingrained into his very DNA as developed through years of hard slog and cojones. As opposed to bagging a header so remarkable it spawned its own neologism, no one used social media to post videos of them “costaing” this summer. Enduring unforgiving criticism as Spain crashed out and rendered countless betting slips worthless, it is clear that tactical flexibility is a gaping hole in Costa’s otherwise handy repertoire.

Vicente Del Bosque’s undying belief in tika-taka is understandable. We can forgive him. After all, an unprecedented three trophies in succession isn’t bad right? However, attempting to shoehorn a striker praised for his upper body strength, forward thrust and effectiveness on the counter into a system that relies upon deftness, dexterity and adroit, sharp movements was a critical error.

Conflicting with teacher’s pet Barcelona, Atletico rebelled, proving that success is not all about pretty flicks and nice manners. Simeone’s ruthless champions prided themselves upon a rugged, physical approach that suited Costa’s greatest assets. Attempting to force him into an incompatible system was always an unrealistic expectation. Watching the influential targetman toil for la Rojas was sadly reminiscent of Torres’ early days in the blue of Chelsea. A criminal misuse of a fine footballer.

However, this is where Chelsea fans can have room for optimism. The similarities between Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone are unavoidable. Almost indistinct. Embracing the underdog spirit, they are masters of the mind, at times exponents of footballs dark arts. An “us against the world”, win at all costs mentality. Defending from the front, parking the bus, whatever you want to call it, Mourinho and “El Cholo” demand remarkable levels of determination and resilience from their star students and rely on blink-you-miss-it counter attacking. Having enjoyed the finest season of his previously unsettled, rather unsuccessful career, Diego Costa should benefit from Mourinho’s undeniable similarities to the man who transformed him from forgotten man to the Beast of Madrid.

Love him or hate him, Mourinho’s tactics are undeniably effective. Sitting deep, absorbing the pressure, diluting a theoretically thrilling contest into a war of tactics and philosophies. However, while getting caught up in the romance of Atletico’s Hollywood style underdog story, it’s easy to overlook the similar approach adopted by Simeone. Especially against ostensibly stronger opposition.

Embodied perfectly by Atletico’s 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabau in September. Los Colchoneros enjoyed a measly 37% possession and completed 200 fewer passes than their city rivals Real. Crucially, Atletico made their chances count however, as Diego Costa stroked home the game’s only goal with just 10 minutes on the clock. The mastermind Argentine conducted the perfect gameplan, perfectly suiting the strengths of his matchwinner. Costa’s incredible upper body strength and fearsome thrust means Atletico’s attacks are often effective through the centre. Therefore, Simeone selected a wingless formation with Arda Turan and Koke acting as inverted widemen. As a result, the majority of Atletico’s play was focused in central areas with almost all of their chances carved out between the width of the boxes. Costa led the line brilliantly, winning an impressive 8 fouls as Atletico succeeded in slowing the pace and stifling Real’s tempo. Costa was extremely efficient in regards to his hold up play and passing, completing all but 3. The most essential statistic, however, is the scoreline. 0-1. A first derby win in 23. Costa netting an infamous winner with a trademark burst of pace and power, followed by a typically tidy finish. Pragmatism, anti-football, whatever you want to call it, emerged victorious.

The similarities between Atletico’s victory over Real and Mourinho’s controversial yet indisputably effective mind-set are clear. While Andre Schurrle has often been deployed as a false nine (remembering back to August’s drab draw at Old Trafford, unless you’ve blocked it out of your mind) the crafty German schemer lacks the clout or dead eyed predatory instinct to provide Chelsea with enough of an attacking threat to balance their defence heavy approach.

Meanwhile, Diego Costa’s work rate on and off the ball will give Mourinho’s vast array of fleet-footed architects with an essential reference point. The former Real gaffer’s preference for deploying Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian or Schurrle in wide roles mean Chelsea often set up extremely narrow, with most attacks generated through central areas. As avid La Liga viewers will testify, many of Costa’s 27 league goals originate from slide rule passes perfectly weighted behind the opposition defence, followed up by clinical finishes from inside the box. At Atletico, terrific trequatista Koke provided the bullets for Costa’s rifle right boot. Cunningly stationed on the left side of midfield, the prodigious playmaker frequently drifted infield to deliver astute reverse balls.

Chelsea must provide Costa with the same service if he is to match last season’s outstanding tally. Cesc Fabregas could be crucial. The former Arsenal captain’s vision and radar like precision will render him an essential component for Jose Mourinho’s title chasers. If, as expected, he plays off Costa in the number 10 role, Fabregas’ responsibility will be similar to Koke’s.

This will work to Costa’s strengths, who should provide the goal threat rarely offered by Torres, Demba Ba or the departed Samuel Eto’o. From three, shambling, B-movie musketeers to one box office smashing Iron Man. The missing piece of Mourinho’s imperfect jigsaw, the Spaniard’s unerring accuracy in one on one situations are essential to Chelsea’s defend deep, quick counter game plan. The concluding lick of paint, turning Chelsea from an ambitious art students A-Level project into an awe-inspiring piece of flair and virtuosity. At Atletico, Costa’s chance conversion rate was outstanding. Next season, with an army of imaginative playmakers providing ammunition, Diego Costa’s merciless finishing could transform Chelsea into a ruthless counter attacking force. With a watertight backline, a creative yet compact midfield, and one of world football’s most clinical forwards added to an already spicy recipe, Chelsea could make the step up form nearly men to champions once more. Finally, the self-proclaimed “Happy One” has something to smile about.

by Daniel Owen

Journalism Student at Leeds Trinity University

Twitter: @danny8195