Why Diego Costa Is Chelsea's Most Important Player in 2014-15 Champions League

Chelsea’s 2014-15 Champions League campaign begins on Wednesday against Schalke 04 at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues made it to the semi-finals of the competition last season, where they were undone by an Atletico Madrid side, including one Diego Costa.

The striker scored a penalty in the second leg of last year’s tie and angered some Blues supporters with his antagonistic antics. Captain John Terry squared up to Costa during the tie, but the two have made amends since becoming team-mates.

Terry spoke to Sky Sports about what Costa brings to this season’s Chelsea, saying:

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I played against him in the Champions League and realised he was a top player but when you see him every day he's got everything and he's got off to a flying start with us and long may it continue because that was the difference.

"

That flying start has included seven goals in four Premier League ties, and it continues the run of form that saw him score eight times in nine Champions League starts for Atletico Madrid last season.

Substituted after just nine minutes of the final after failing to overcome a hamstring injury, Costa has a point to prove in Europe’s premier competition, which is great news for Chelsea.

The Blues hold the ignominious record of being the first defending champions to exit the competition at the group stage in the following season. Although they made it to the semi-finals last year, they failed to look convincing at any stage, mainly due to the struggles of their strikers to score.

Fernando Torres finished the competition with four goals from nine total appearances. Demba Ba was the most prolific Chelsea striker with three goals from six appearances, five of which came from the bench.

Last season the Blues relied heavily on Eden Hazard for their attacking prowess, which made it easy for the opposition to mark him out of the game.

The addition of Costa, as well as Cesc Fabregas, will allow them the space to finish off the free-flowing attacking football that so often fell short in last season’s campaign.

Costa also brings a level of aggression that was missing from Chelsea’s strikers in 2013-14. His desire to win at all costs may have seen him wind up his future captain, but it caused havoc for all of the opposing defenders that he faced.

His ability to time his runs and his strength in holding up play make him the ideal striker to spearhead the Blues’ attack. He is also willing to work for the good of the team, telling the official Chelsea website:

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Every striker has their own way of playing and their strengths and a different team behind them. That is very important. If you do not have the team behind you then you cannot do things on your own. It all depends on the team.

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Jose Mourinho downplayed his desire to win a third Champions League title in his pre-match press conference, preferring to reiterate the importance of avoiding the drop into the Europa League. However, when pressed, he admitted that he would like to win it again, not only for himself but for the club as a whole.

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Do I want to win it again? Of course I want to. The tournament is part of my history and, even if they don’t sometimes know it, I am a part of the tournament’s history. But my motivation is always the same. What drives me is to try to win. I work for my club, for my players and for my supporters, not for myself.

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With Costa leading a potent attack, Mourinho has his best chance in years of lifting "the big one" with Chelsea this season.

Statistics via WhoScored.com