Diego Costa: Chelsea determined to repay fans' love and honour club after last season's disappointment

Payback time: Costa says the Chelsea players are keen to give something back to the fans
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Simon Johnson15 September 2016

Diego Costa has said the Chelsea players are determined to honour the club this year and repay the affection shown by supporters despite last season's disappointment.

Chelsea take on Liverpool at home tomorrow night knowing a win will put them on top of the table for the first time since they won the League in 2015.

The Blues suffered their worst campaign in the Roman Abramovich era last term after finishing without a trophy in tenth place, which was their lowest position for 20 years.

Speaking about the campaign to Chelsea Magazine, Costa said: "Obviously it motivates me a lot, but I can only talk for myself.

"Everyone has to be their own critic. For me it didn't go well, we didn't honour this great club as we should.

"So we knew that this season, we had to start strong. We had to have this team spirit, this motivation to start well, not just from the first game but from the beginning of pre-season right through to the last game of the season, in order to honour the club."

Costa, who has been unsettled in the capital since joining from Atletico Madrid for £32m in 2014, confirmed earlier this month that he wanted to return to his former club this summer only for Chelsea to block the move.

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The Spain international has been frustrated at all the negative criticism from pundits and felt targeted by match officials.

However, Costa insists he has the Chelsea fans to thank for helping him get through all the tough times and is doing his utmost to repay them.

Costa, who has scored four goals in as many League games so far, added: "I hear them and I'm very thankful.

"Sometimes I even tell my relatives and my friends that I get a lot of love from the fans and I'm not sure if it's deserved.

"I do my best, I go onto the pitch and I play to the best of my ability. I try to reciprocate and to give back to the fans with my performances, like a big 'thank you' for the love they show me."

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