Juan Mata believes it is difficult for a striker to adapt to how Spain play but would rather have Diego Costa on his side than play against him.
La Roja Coach Vicente Del Bosque left Costa out of the squad to play Luxembourg and Ukraine in the final Euro 2016 qualifiers, citing disciplinary issues as the cause, but Costa has struggled in his appearances for the national team.
“It’s not easy to be the striker in a team like ours, with two midfielders,” Mata told Onda Cero’s Al Primer Toque, Marca reports.
“You have to adapt and be patient, because a lot of time can pass without touching the ball but then you have to finish well.
“It’s very complicated and players like [Fernando] Torres and [David] Villa did very well, but for the forward it’s difficult to come and adapt.”
Regarding Costa’s disciplinary issues that saw a three-game Premier League ban after a series of altercations with Arsenal players, Mata said Costa’s game has always had that element to it.
“It’s very difficult to face him. I’d rather have him as a teammate than a rival,” Mata acknowledged.
“With his movement and his goals he always creates problems, and also because he fights with the centre-backs and causes friction that somehow knocks the opponents’ concentration.
“That’s his game and it has always been that way. It’s not new. Now it seems to have been noticed more because he’s in the Premier League and it’s different from what was there before, but he has always played well.”
