I feel like this could almost be turned into some sort of inspirational message.
Try reading this with Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’ in the background and see if it sounds better.
We saw the news yesterday that Pablo Hernandez has picked up an injury and is set to be replaced by Helder Costa in the starting line-up. My one message to Costa is simply this. You’ve been given your opportunity, now go out there and take it.
It’s been no secret that a number of people have been crying out for this for some time now. Be they members of the media, fans on social media, or fans on this site. I personally would have preferred he get his game time ahead of Jack Harrison, because he hasn’t been producing at the rate he should be for a player in his second year under Bielsa, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Helder Costa has got a pretty good record in terms of both goals and assists when it comes to playing in the Championship, so the fact that he has been held back for so long I have always found slightly baffling, it shouldn’t have had to take an injury to someone like Hernandez for him to be given his shot in the league.
What’s potentially very important here, is that if he puts in a performance, it could start to pave a way for other younger players to start taking the place of more experienced ones in the starting line-up. For instance imagine if he plays a blinder today, which then encourages Bielsa to tweak things up and give Eddie Nketiah a regular place in the starting eleven.
That’s why today is so important not just for Costa, but in a sense for the whole team as well. It could be the catalyst that makes Bielsa think about deviating away from his methods. And given how it’s somewhat been holding us back so far this season, that could be a blessing in disguise.
What about you? Do you think that this is Costa’s perfect opportunity to cement his place in the first team? Or do you believe that Bielsa is so set in his ways that as soon as he’s recovered Hernandez will be back in the starting line-up?