'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
↵
Jose Mourinho is prepared to risk star-striker Diego Costa in both the Champions League fixture against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday as well as the huge Premier league clash against Arsenal on the weekend.
The Brazilian born forward has been carrying a hamstring injury for a month during national duty with Spain and did not start in midweek games in the Champions League and the League Cup. In the Premier League, however he has been scoring goals for fun and leads the top scoring charts with 8.
Chelsea’s other forward Didier Drogba has aggravated an ankle injury in training could be out for a fortnight with Loic Remy being the only recognized back up.
“Diego starts,” said Mourinho. “I have the feeling that, next week, he goes to the national team. And I have the feeling that, with the national team, they will make no consideration for the fact he’s in trouble. So, in Lisbon, he plays. And, hopefully, he plays Sunday again against Arsenal. There is a risk, yes. But we accept that risk, he plays and, hopefully, everything goes well. Then we hope, from Tuesday to Sunday, he has enough time to be back on track again and play against Arsenal.
“In this moment, if Diego can play, I play Diego. The team had a pre-season with him. The team have worked with him a lot of times. He’s played with us every match in the Premier League so far. So the team, at this moment, is more made to play with Diego. Loïc Remy’s learning how to play with us – his movement is good, his pace is good, he can get behind defenders and he is not bad in the air – but I would prefer to play Diego.”
Chelsea’s great start to the domestic season could however count if nothing if Costa picks up along-term injury now or during the international break but the 51-year-old is not thinking about the future too much.
“I’m going to start with the team I think is the best team,” Mourinho said. “That gives me also some players on the bench with quality to help me change the way the game is going, if needed. This is a difficult match for us, so I can’t think about Arsenal. I think only about Sporting.”
