Premier League leaders Chelsea have been dealt a blow as top scorer Diego Costa is expected to be sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Costa, the Premier League top scorer with nine goals, played in his nation’s defeat to Slovakia and victory over Luxembourg during the international break. Costa returned from international duty on Monday and has been having treatment this week.
Chelsea have been carefully monitoring Costa’s hamstrings all season, rarely playing him in two games in the sam week. But that was not the case with Spain where he played all but eight minutes in the two games combined.
‘Yes. The Spanish team played in Luxembourg on Sunday. I gave them Diego, Fabregas and Azpilicueta.
‘I gave them two days off, Monday and Tuesday, so they had to report to train on Wednesday at 3pm. And Diego was here Monday at 9am. So you can imagine how strong he was to be here at 9am on Monday.’
The Chelsea boss added: ‘I don’t lose my time contacting managers from national teams. In the past they used to contact me, but it is never my initiative to contact national team coaches.
‘They have the power, we don’t have the power.
‘Every Chelsea player who is selected at that time, we are happy that the players represent their country.’
If Costa is out for three weeks, will miss this weekend’s trip to Selhurst Park, the midweek Champions League Maribor