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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Coley

'Curious' - National media react to Chelsea win over Wolves as Diego Costa gets high-fives

Graham Potter must be thinking what all the fuss was about. If it's going to be like this, keep it coming.

In four matches, Chelsea have 10 points, two league wins, back-to-back clean sheets and have moved themselves from a potentially perilous position into a state of calm, for now. Potter's side have have also scored eight goals and conceded just two so far.

Compare that Thomas Tuchel's own mid-season takeover, his first four matches brought 10 points as well, five goals and one conceded, along with the German's tactical changes, there are parallels.

READ MORE: Four things learned as Havertz, Pulisic and Broja vindicate Potter in Chelsea win vs Wolves

Here's how the national media reacted to Potter's 3-0 victory over Wolves.

The Guardian

Diego Costa did not get the chance to say goodbye to the Chelsea support when he left the club under such a cloud in 2017 after his falling out with the manager at the time, Antonio Conte. The centre-forward was able to do so here – only not as he might have wanted.

Costa’s full debut for Wolves was low on impact and his team were 2-0 down and heading for another defeat when he saw his number go up on 56 minutes. To the arch-competitor, it must have stung.

Still, Costa decided to enjoy the moment. He was on the opposite side to the dugouts and so he took the scenic route around the pitch and in front of the Matthew Harding Stand as play resumed. After two Premier League titles and 52 goals in 89 league appearances for Chelsea, his place in the hearts of the fans is assured and how they serenaded him.

There were smiles from Costa, high fives for a few supporters, and quite what those in the visiting enclosure made of it is anyone’s guess.

The Express

Chelsea manager Graham Potter pulled off a third consecutive victory and protected his unbeaten start with a comfortable 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday. Another curious starting XI, a couple of star performers and goals from Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja gave Blues fans plenty to ponder as Express Sport takes you through five things we learned from an intriguing Premier League clash...

Potter keeps fans guessing

The Englishman's teams are hard to pin down and he took another opportunity against Wolves to flex his tactical muscles. Having beaten AC Milan in a back-three formation on Wednesday, he reverted to a four-man defence on Saturday but it wasn't quite as simple as that.

Starting the game in a 4-2-3-1 or what could even be considered a variation on a 4-4-2, Mason Mount played just off Kai Havertz with Conor Gallagher featuring on the right side of midfield. The shape was predictably fluid as Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek occasionally popped up as defined holders, while Cesar Azpilicueta was heavily involved by sporadically flying down the right flank.

Vote of confidence for Kepa

Potter insists that the two goalkeepers - Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga - are in a close fight for the No 1 spot after Thomas Tuchel's sacking. The former Brighton boss wasn't bluffing as, despite Mendy regaining fitness, Kepa maintained his spot between the sticks.

The Spaniard repaid his manager's faith, too, with another steady performance. He was alert to come off his line and deal with danger early on before confidently palming away a Joao Moutinho free-kick, while the clean sheet will come as an added bonus.

The Daily Mail

If this felt a little like Diego Costa's testimonial, it shouldn't have done. Wolves, in the first game since sacking Bruno Lage, are in serious trouble and whether Costa, out of shape and out of football since terminating his contact with Brazil's Atletico Mineiro in January, is the man to save them is a moot point.

But, still, what a moment. After he had huffed and puffed for 56 minutes, leading the line with tenacity if not the menace of old, his number was up. On came Hwang Hee-chan and Costa proceeded to wend his way slowly, along the touchline and in front of the Matthew Harding Stand, back to the Wolves dug out.

Stamford Bridge rose as one to acclaim him. He may be the archetypal villain anywhere else in the world, other than the red and white quarters of Madrid, but here he remains a hero.

Costa, irascible as ever, reciprocated, acknowledging them, fist bumping and slapping hands with front-row fans. 'Diego! Diego!' they chanted, the Chelsea fans, that is.

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