Diego Costa's Chelsea future in serious doubt after Jose Mourinho row
Posted Monday, November 30, 2015 by Dailystar.co.uk
DIEGO COSTA’S Chelsea future is on the line after another public bust-up with boss Jose Mourinho.
Costa was angry at being axed for the London derby at Tottenham and made his disgust clear to the rest of the world.
The hot-headed striker tossed his bib towards Mourinho in stoppage-time after being left on the bench at White Hate Lane.
His latest show of dissent came after he rowed with Mourinho during Wednesday’s 4-0 Champions League win at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Costa is now likely to find himself out in the cold with huge question marks over his long-term future.
Mourinho tried to play down his latest tantrum though.
"If he wants to hurt me, it’s not with a bib,” he said. “I was not expecting to have a player on the bench jumping and singing because he is not playing.
"For a top player, they’re not happy. His behaviour was normal. He was ready to play when he went to warm up. When I decided not to play him, he went.
"The message to all my players, not just Diego, is that when we play as a team, and especially when we defend as a team, the team is much better.
"The way we played, I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t lose any of the next 10 matches. If we go into a run of good results. The team was a team. I’m really happy with my decision."
AXED: Costa was on the bench for the Spurs clash
Mourinho says Costa is lucky he wasn’t dropped even earlier in the season after scoring just four goals.
"Diego is very privileged because he was the last one to be on the bench," said Mourinho.
"Everyone else has been - the captain (John Terry), Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, the vice-captain of England, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Eden Hazard, player of the season, Oscar.
"Today we thought the best strategy was this one. We are happy with the decision and the players.
"If we had won 1-0, our performance would have been considered tremendous. You will say it was good."
THE BOSS: Mourinho backed his decision to axe Costa
Costa didn’t warm up with his team-mates before the game or cool down afterwards.
He was also first on the team bus afterwards.
Mourinho’s words were a clear signal he does not plan to start with Costa in the near future, beginning with the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday.
He was thrilled with the experiment of playing Hazard as a central striker, praising him for his intelligent movement, which was something he berated Costa for not doing in Israel.
STAR MAN: Mourinho praised Hazard after the game
"The game more complete, in both directions - with and without the ball, attacking people with the ball, attacking the space without it.
"He did fantastically well. Even without scoring, his appetite to be important in the game and make an impact was there."
Mourinho also revealed skipper John Terry, Ramires and goalkeeper Thibault Courtois should all be fit to face Bournemouth.
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