MX23RW : Tuesday, November 12 19:43:01| >> :120:22850:22850:

Gary Cahill: 'Diego Costa as loved as Didier Drogba at Chelsea'

Cahill: 'Costa as loved as Drogba at Chelsea'
© SilverHub
Gary Cahill believes that Diego Costa is "right up there among the best in the world", and is also alongside Didier Drogba in terms of Chelsea's all-time greats.

Gary Cahill has claimed that teammate Diego Costa is now just as important to Chelsea's title hopes as Didier Drogba used to be.

The Spain international took his tally for the season to 12 goals in 15 Premier League appearances at the weekend by scoring the crucial breakthrough strike at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Costa, criticised by many fans following Jose Mourinho's sacking 12 months ago, has now well and truly won back the support of those around Stamford Bridge thanks to his impressive form in front of goal under Antonio Conte, so much so that Cahill believes that the striker is now at a similar level to club legend Drogba in the popularity stakes.

"Didier was a huge figure goalscoring wise and also with his personality on and off the pitch," he told the London Evening Standard. "You need strikers like that and Diego has fitted in nicely.

"Since he's been at the club he's scored goals but this season he's on fire. Are the fans starting to love him like they loved Didier? Yes, of course, because he is banging goals in every week. He is winning us matches. At this moment he is right up there among the best in the world. The statistics don't lie."

Drogba found the net 164 times in 381 appearances for Chelsea across two separate spells and was crowned the Blues' greatest-ever player in 2012 after helping his side to the Champions League crown.

ID:287224: cacheID:287224:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2638:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Diego Costa celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Chelsea on December 3, 2016
Read Next:
Redknapp: 'Costa best in the league'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!