Guus Hiddink Comments on Diego Costa, Jose Mourinho Bib Incident, Chelsea, More

Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has backed hot-headed striker Diego Costa to overcome his recent Stamford Bridge woes and get back to firing form after a terrible start to the 2015-16 campaign.

Costa's stuttering form has been implied as one of the factors behind Mourinho's dismissal, but Hiddink said the Brazilian is "focused" on pulling the Blues up the standings, per the Telegraph's Matt Law:

"

I've worked with him (Costa) a few days and in the past I've seen him on television a few times. What I experienced in the last few days, and with the last game he played, he was in control.

He was focused more on what he is hired for here, which is to help to score or assist and not going into other things. I think he was well controlled when I experienced him now in the last days. I cannot have any complaints about him.

"

It was speculated the Spain international's relationship with Mourinho had hit the buffers after he was captured throwing a bib at his former manager as an unused substitute during November's 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, per BBC Sport.

Hiddink will be all too aware of the responsibility his front man holds and sympathised with Costa, using his own similar playing experience to better understand the forward's predicament:

"

He's an emotional guy and there was something with a bib I read. When I was a player, a long time ago, I was subbed even as captain. I wasn't used to that. I remember that day because it's fixed in my brain, even though it was just after World War II!

I was captain of my team and the manager substituted me at half-time. I thought I’d performed, but I threw off my armband and threw it at him. 'You make a new captain.' It was also an emotional reaction born of frustration. Sportsmen are allowed to show a bit of emotion, but they must know five or 10 seconds later that they're wrong.

"

After playing his part as such a vital component in Chelsea's Premier League title triumph last season, scoring 20 goals in 26 appearances, Costa could hold the key to the club's hopes of escaping their nightmarish start.

Chelsea defeated Sunderland last Saturday in what was their first Premier League win since November, but BBC Radio 5 Live suggested Costa may still not be content in west London after leaving in a rush:

The victory should have been a happy occasion for a team struggling to clinch results, but Costa raised some question marks by evacuating Stamford Bridge just 15 minutes after the full-time whistle.

His morale could also have been affected by the apparent boos that rung around the stadium upon hearing his name, due to his alleged hand in Mourinho's dismissal, per Sunday League FC:

Of course, Costa isn't alone at Stamford Bridge when it comes to players failing to recapture their previous best, with John Terry, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas also underwhelming this season.

Fletch and Sav recently compared Costa's statistics with those of last season, and the 27-year-old was evidenced to have been inferior in numerous aspects of his game:

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Which #CFC player is more likely to rediscover last year's form? RT for @hazardeden10, Like for @diegocosta pic.twitter.com/gblqvsUTJC

— Fletch And Sav (@FletchAndSav) December 19, 2015"

In his second reign at the Chelsea helm, Hiddink will assuredly focus on restoring the morale of the entire squad, forgiving many past discrepancies as he eyes a clean slate at Stamford Bridge.

Perhaps Costa is in need of one more than most, and a fresh start under the Dutchman could be exactly what's needed to rescue his side from arguably the worst run in Chelsea's Premier League history.