It was announced on Friday morning: Diego Costa has scooped the August 2014 Barclays Premier League Player of the Month award. The Brazilian-born Spanish international is experiencing his very first season in England, having left Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window.
With a 2013/14 La Liga medal around his neck, Diego Costa has taken absolutely no time to settle his game in the EPL. The 25-year-old striker scored on his debut against Burnley. He opened the scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 home win against Leicester City before hitting a brace in the Blues' amazing 6-3 victory away to Everton on Matchday 3 of the EPL.
Costa was picked ahead of four other nominees: Swansea City's Gylfi Sigurdsson and Nathan Dyer, Aston Villa's Andrea Weimann, and his own teammate Cesc Fabregas. Upon receiving the prestigious league prize, the new Chelsea fans' favourite declared:
"I’m very happy to win this award. It is important to begin well at a new club and I’m pleased with both my start to the season and also the team’s, which is the most important thing.
"I hope to continue scoring goals to help out the team and keep making our fantastic supporters happy. I thank my team-mates as they have helped me win this award."
Veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech, who recently led his country to a stunning 2-1 upset of the Netherlands in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers, was also presented with the 2013/14 Premier League Golden Glove award.
Old but gold: Cech posing with his award
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Like Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny, the Czech shot-stopper recorded 16 clean sheets last season. He now has a hat-trick of Golden Gloves after triumphing in 2004/05 and 2009/10. He was quoted as saying:
"I am very happy to receive my third Golden Glove award. It’s always a pleasure to receive individual awards but I know that it would not be possible without my team-mates who work very hard to ensure the team keeps a clean sheet."
This season, Petr Cech faces a very tough competition in post in the form of Thibaut Courtois.
