Chelsea Win over Stoke Ever More Vital in Title Chase After Diego Costa Injury
STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON — Diego Costa’s hamstring injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Chelsea.
Before the month is out, Jose Mourinho’s side face Manchester United and Arsenal in games that will go a long way to deciding their Premier League title fate.
Mourinho needs all his big guns firing as Chelsea look for one final push to get them over the line ahead of the chasing pack. Now’s he lost his most lethal goalscorer.
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That said, Loic Remy has timed his emergence at Chelsea to perfection.
Costa has scored the goals for much of the season to get Chelsea in the position they are, and right now it seems Remy is going to be the unlikeliest of heroes to score the goals that win them the title.
The cheers from the Stamford Bridge crowd at the end of their 2-1 victory over Stoke City told us everything about this game.
This was about more than defeating a mid-table side with a penchant for mixing it physically.
This was a massive three points in the title race and a significant hurdle cleared, and the fans wanted to let Mourinho’s players know that they approved.
Indeed, as "One Step Beyond" blasted over the Tannoy, it could have been a Champions League night; Chelsea could have booked their place on the plane to Berlin for June’s final, such was the celebratory mood.
What they’ve done instead is maintain their superiority at the top of the Premier League at a crucial stage when the games are running out for their rivals to catch them.
Forget Manchester City; it’s Arsenal who are looking to be Chelsea’s main contenders. And at this moment they’re making considerable noise to that effect, putting together a run of form that has seen them come close to reeling Chelsea in.
For every advantage Arsene Wenger’s men think they have obtained, Chelsea have snatched it away from them.
Make no mistake, following their humbling of Liverpool a couple of hours before Chelsea faced Stoke, the Arsenal players would have had more than an eye on the outcome of this game.
When Costa chased a Cesc Fabregas through ball and pulled up, clutching his left leg in pain, their beaks would have been perked.
The score was 1-1 at that stage, and after yet another dismal showing, Oscar had been hauled off at half-time to make way for Costa.
Mourinho had explained just a day previous that he was fit and recovered from his hamstring strain, yet this showed us otherwise.
Charlie Adam’s sublime goal that lobbed Thibaut Courtois from inside his own half had cancelled out Eden Hazard’s penalty just before the interval, meaning Chelsea had to throw caution to the wind.
That came with playing Costa, and when he hobbled down the tunnel looking distraught just 10 minutes after his introduction, it wasn’t only Mourinho who would have been fearing the worse.
Three points were always going to be the biggest reward for Chelsea here, although Remy’s goalscoring form has given them a psychological boost at the right time.
It’s a significant message: Cut down the Premier League’s leading goalscorer and Chelsea still have enough elsewhere to keep going.
Remy’s played the role of the quiet man all year. We haven’t heard much from him, but when we have, it has always been significant.
There was the goal against Manchester City in late January, the winner against Hull City a fortnight ago. Now this.
Without him, Chelsea could be looking at their lead over Arsenal being just three points.
Mourinho’s men would still have that game in hand to come away to Leicester City; Wenger’s men, though, would have that valuable commodity of momentum.
“In this moment a victory is a victory,” Mourinho explained after. “Yesterday, for example, I sent a message to [Aitor] Karanka [after Middlesbrough’s win] and said: ‘1-0 in April is like 10-0 in November.’
“For us, it’s no different. You win titles playing very well in the season, you win titles because a team is really good and play good. When you go into the countdown, it’s about everything.”
We’re not talking in the terms of Arsenal’s momentum now. We’re left talking about another Chelsea win and where it leaves them in their pursuit of topping the Premier League.
Remy has ensured the side stories remain there. And he’s done it at the perfect time.
“I think it’s fantastic for the boy to play in the last two matches and score two winning goals. It’s so important for him to feel that happiness.”
Because of Remy, Chelsea are more than likely to enjoying that happiness collectively in a few weeks.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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