EXCLUSIVE – Michael Ballack believes Diego Costa should be more grateful towards Chelsea and forget transfer talk
Michael Ballack believes Diego Costa should be more grateful to Chelsea and lead them towards the Premier League title.
The Spanish striker has been strongly linked with a move to China and reportedly went on strike ahead of the club’s trip to Leicester two weeks ago.
Costa has since returned to first team action and scored in his side’s 2-0 win over Hull City to send the Blues eight points clear at the top of the table.
And former Chelsea midfielder Ballack has advised Costa to focus on winning trophies and not his potential earnings.
“It’s up to him with his attitude and his commitment to the club,” Ballack told talkSPORT.
“Because he’s playing for Chelsea and they gave him the possibility to shine and to perform well at one of the biggest clubs in Europe - and he should not forget that.
“Of course, offers are coming with crazy numbers from China, but players should remember they are playing in a fantastic league in Europe and are top of the top, in terms of being watched, the quality of clubs, the players and they are on good money. Nobody would complain about their contracts.
“It’s a bit of a disturbance to see all these offers coming in, but Costa is professional enough to see what a fantastic club Chelsea is.
“On the other side, each club and each player has to deal with these kinds of situations. What is important; is that they win the league and the next game. Already, he found a good answer last week by coming back and scoring.”
Antonio Conte is on course to win the title in his first season at Stamford Bridge after taking over at a club who finished 10th prior to his arrival.
The likes of Eden Hazard and Pedro have excelled under the Italian’s guidance in what has been an outstanding introduction to English football.
Chelsea face Liverpool and Arsenal in their next two league fixtures and Ballack is expecting a happy end to the season, should his former club secure positive results.
“It’s never easy to win the Premier League title. But they [Chelsea] deserve to be eight points clear because they played really fantastic and they came good through the winter.
“Conte is doing a really good job in his first year. He’s adapting to the club really well, and players like [Eden] Hazard and Pedro are playing different football to what they were last year - they’re on a different level.
“And [Diego] Costa is doing a fantastic job up front scoring goals week-in-week-out.
“They have a tough week coming up with Liverpool and Arsenal. If they get out with two good results, I’m pretty sure they can win the title.”
Club captain John Terry has featured sparingly under Conte this season and is entering the final months of his contract in west London.
Ballack played alongside Terry during a four-year spell, which saw the German pick up four major trophies.
But despite his old teammate being linked with a move away from his boyhood club, Ballack has suggested the 36-year-old should stay with Chelsea.
“I can’t really recommend playing for another club because if you play for Chelsea for such a long time at that level - especially in the Champions League - and playing for the title, it is a little bit difficult to take a step down.
“You should always try and stop at the highest level, where people will remember you really well, what you have achieved, what you have done - for his country as well - and I’m pretty sure he will find a good solution for himself.
“It’s not always easy to find a good access as a player when you get older. It’s never easy, because you love that sport and you want to do it as long as possible. But I think he will do the right step - I would not do it [join a lower club in England].”