Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho expressed concern over Diego Costa ‘s hamstring injury and admitted that the club needs to start the striker for sunday’s EPL fixture with Manchester City. The Spanish international has had an impressive start so far at Stamford Bridge since his £32 million summer deal; the 25-year-old has scored 7 goals in four games for the Blues.
Costa is restricted to a match each week as a result of a hamstring injury he picked up on international duty with Spain, He came on as a substitute in the final 17 minutes of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Schalke on Wednesday night.
Mourinho had confirmed the restriction on the Spaniard saying: ‘Costa has a problem and he can’tplay in this moment three matches in a week. If he has one week to let the muscle recover, he can start again like he has been since he had that problem with the national team.’
Notwithstanding, the Portuguese football manager said he had arranged with the club’s medical staff to ensure Costa plays on Sunday.
“Diego is not in the best conditions, but he will start the game,” confirmed Mourinho.
“He plays this game, he cannot play against Bolton (in the Capital One Cup next Wednesday). It’s as simple as that.
“I know clearly that we have to try to protect him until he gets completely fit,” he went on to clearify.