Diego Costa and Martin Skrtel revived their old rivalry during the Chelsea Legends and Liverpool Legends match on Saturday.
Costa and Skrtel had countless battles down the years and have just engaged in a new one at Stamford Bridge.
In the end, it was Skrtel who finished the match on the winning side, with Liverpool able to beat Chelsea 1-0.
Joao Pedro is the striker leading the line for Chelsea these days, and he has got off to a very bright start in west London. However, after 12 games, Costa’s goal record is superior to Pedro’s.
Roberto Di Matteo loved Diego Costa’s battle with Martin Skrtel
Roberto Di Matteo was the man in the dugout for the Chelsea Legends games, and he had no issues with Costa unleashing his fiery side.
Speaking about the yellow card that Costa picked up and the moment the striker squared up with Skrtel, Di Matteo told Chelsea’s official club website: “I love it, I love him. He is a fantastic personality. You know you need fiery players like that.
“In my Chelsea team as a player we used to have Dennis Wise, who would rattle the opposition a little bit. So I understand why managers loved to have Diego in their team!”
Martin Skrtel of Liverpool Legends and Diego Costa of Chelsea Legends square up
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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Discipline has always been a problem for Costa, and it is an issue for Chelsea right now.
They have already picked up four red cards this season, including Enzo Maresca‘s dismissal against Liverpool last weekend.
Maresca was sent off for wildly celebrating Estevao Willian’s winner in the 95th minute of the match.
Diego Costa of Chelsea Legends takes a shot whilst under pressure from Jay Spearing of Liverpool Legends
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Diego Costa’s disciplinary record at Chelsea
Somehow, Costa was actually only ever sent off once during his time at Stamford Bridge! However, the former Spain international did pick up a lot of yellow cards.
In total, Costa finished his Chelsea career with 30 to his name, which is a pretty big number for a centre-forward.
Diego Costa’s disciplinary record at Chelsea Total
Games 120
Yellow cards 30
Red cards 1
Via Transfermarkt
He won plenty of games for Chelsea, though, and that is what supporters would have cared about at the time.
They would love to have a No.9 like him now, especially with Liam Delap out injured. Pedro is not a bad option, however, and has proven that at the Club World Cup. Chelsea just need him to find his shooting boots again.