Jamie Carragher Slams Diego Costa After Chelsea Star's Apparent Sleep Gesture

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher launched a scathing attack on Chelsea’s toiling forward Diego Costa on Monday evening, as the latter seemed to criticise his team-mates for not being alert during the match against Leicester City.

Costa, who was part of a Blues team that lost 2-1 to the fantastic Foxes, was caught on camera making a sleeping gesture towards his team-mates in the wake of the opening goal, scored by Jamie Vardy. Speaking in his role as a pundit on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports, Carragher noted it was an action that didn't sit too well with him, per Richard Arrowsmith of the MailOnline:

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There's nothing worse than a player coming back and telling other people what they should be doing. It’s not what he should be doing considering he's been asleep all season. 

He’s done nothing for Chelsea compared to what he did last year…. Don’t tell the defence what they should be doing. You sort yourself out at the other end of the pitch and take a leaf out of Jamie Vardy’s book.

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Here’s a look at the gesture made by the forward at the end of the first half, per MailOnline Sport:

The advice from the Spain international striker did little to galvanise Chelsea’s lacklustre defensive play, as Leicester added to their 1-0 lead after the break through the brilliant Riyad Mahrez. Loic Remy did get one back for the visitors, who threatened to stage a late fightback, but the hosts held on to claim a deserved three points.

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The result leaves the Blues, champions of England last year, just one point clear of the relegation zone. As these statistics from OptaJoe prove, things are pretty bad for Jose Mourinho’s men:

After dominating the Premier League last year, Chelsea have malfunctioned in so many different facets this time around, with Costa’s own form a big cause for concern.

The former Atletico Madrid man terrorised defences with his brutish centre-forward play last season, with goals flowing regularly to cap off accomplished team performances. Yet this campaign the 27-year-old has looked sluggish, disinterested and, at times, more interested in getting embroiled in scuffles with the opposition instead of scoring goals.

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As Daniel Taylor of the Guardian reported in the aftermath of the contest, Mourinho himself commented on the manner in which confidence has been sapped from Costa’s game:

At the moment, it is clear not everyone is pulling in the same direction, as is evident by Costa’s actions and Mourinho’s tirade at his players in the aftermath of the match, per BBC Sport.

There are massive issues at Stamford Bridge and it’s tough to see, after a plethora of seemingly false dawns, how Mourinho will turn it round at this juncture. Plenty at the club seem happy to shirk responsibility and point fingers during difficult moments; typically, those kinds of traits are an indicator some decisive change is required.