Zitat des Tages von Diego Costa:
Jose Mourinho has been really clear about what he expects from me, saying he wants me working hard rather than just scoring. Hard work is what he values.
I will not change unless my manager or the people from my club or my supporters tell me.
Every striker has their way of playing and their strengths and a different team behind them. That is very important.
I don't think I am the type of person who thinks, 'I dunno. Things are getting on top of me.' It's not that I think I'm any different to most people. I always make a big effort, to fight with all my strength, make the best of a situation, and always want to win.
There are managers who always say what people want to hear. I think that's not good.
I look back, and I know what I left behind in Lagarto when I pursued my own dream.
Goals are what count for me. It's not about a battle with defenders. Fighting hard, giving everything and working hard on the field you have to combine with the goals you score. It doesn't matter if defenders want to battle with me or not; I will just be trying to do my job as well as I possibly can.
I train all week just to play for 90 minutes. I love playing games, and so during those 90 minutes, it's always 100 per cent.
When a game comes around, that's the time to be serious. During the week, the training sessions are serious, but away from there, you have to relax and switch off.
I'm no angel. You can see that. But every time I play, I will play the same way because that's the way I am.
I thought it was very important to keep growing with Atletico and to play there for many years.
You always have to know that you are going to leave everything on the pitch, every drop of sweat, to help the team win the game.
I want to be competitive; I want to run all over - I want to win.
Afterwards, when the match is over, I have my family and my friends. I have fun like a normal person.
The key for me is to score goals and win trophies.
I don't pick tournaments to score or rivals or other teams to score against. I'm a striker: every game I play, I want to score.
In England, the referees don't call many fouls, as opposed to Spanish football. Consequently, you must be really strong all through the 90 minutes.
I do my best; I go onto the pitch and I play to the best of my ability.
Obviously, I have to enjoy all I have. People depend on you, and now I can look back at everything I've gone through to get here with a different perspective.
I haven't done great things for Spain - I can't lie - but when I play well, they should say so. They criticise me for my character, but I also have quality.
On the pitch, I will always be like that. That's my character, and I will always compete and compete - always. I'm a different guy off the pitch, as you can see, but on the pitch, I will not change.
When we go to the pitch, that's all we want to do - we want to win - and when the game finishes, if you win, you go home happy.
Put me there on the pitch if you want to see how much it means to me or how hungry I am to win more medals.
Check my records: you'll find I've never caused a bad injury to a player.
My mindset is always to be victorious, to win the match.
We always have to show our character on the pitch, and I show my feelings.
Work goes well if you give your best with the guy beside you.
You know when you have a manager that is always successful, is always in the title race and always playing in the Champions League.
Life has many turns.
If you ask a million players who they would want as manager, they will come back with a top three list of Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, or Diego Simeone.
Football is my life, and I cannot imagine myself doing anything other than playing this game.
I give no quarter, and I ask for none. Out there, I'm going to fight for my team and do the best I can.
Some people seem to think football is like theatre and that everyone has to play the good guy. But I think that you transform when you cross the white line: you're not the same person as off it.
I can only watch calmly if the match is decided or my team are dominating. But I get passionate very easily.
Atletico know I have a special feeling for the team. I lived the best moment of my career there.
I don't have a problem with any defenders. I've always played against great defenders.
