Chelsea right to sell Diego Costa, says Gianfranco Zola

Posted Thursday, September 28, 2017 by Skysports.com

Chelsea were right to sell Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid this summer, says Blues legend Gianfranco Zola.

Costa completed his move to former club Atletico on Tuesday evening despite helping Chelsea to the Premier League title last season.

Zola, speaking on The Debate, adds Costa's replacement Alvaro Morata is technically great, but is holding back judgement on whether he is the full package.

Zola said: "I have no doubt that it was right for him to go. He probably has a problem, the team is not made by one player, and I think it's better for him to go.

"On the temporal level Morata is not on the same level as Costa. Technically he is a great player, he obviously has a lot of qualities, good in the air, good feet.

"He has been with Juventus, Real Madrid, big teams, but didn't play regularly, and I want to find out why. And this year I think I'm going to get the answers."

Morata has started his Chelsea career superbly, scoring seven goals in his first eight games following a move from Real Madrid in the summer.

Craig Bellamy, also speaking on The Debate, said Spaniard Morata can add something different to Chelsea's play, and insists he is better than Costa at playing off the shoulder of the opposition defence.

"Costa is a brilliant player, Chelsea fans love him, he is always a threat, always involved, but clearly something happened," Bellamy said. "And that's between the manager and himself. It helps that if Costa does leave you can bring in Morata.

"At Real and Juventus there is always going to be competition for places. But you look at Chelsea at this moment, he does look like the main man. I think he could add something different to Chelsea, especially away from home.

"I love the way he is always on the shoulder. He can do that a little bit more, and a little bit better than what Costa did."