Mourinho Confirms Costa Will Start Against Sporting Lisbon

Ahead of Chelsea’s Tuesday Champions League Group G against Sporting Lisbon, Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Diego Costa will start for the Blues despite nursing a tight hamstring.

The Blues flew to Portugal on Monday without their third striker, Didier Drogba who is suffering an ankle injury. The available strikers for the game are the fully fit, Loic Remy and the unfit Diego Costa but the Portuguese coach has opted for the latter.

‘In this moment, if Diego can play, I play Diego’.

‘The team had a pre-season with him. The team worked with him a lot of times. He’s playing with us every match in the Premier League. So the team at this moment is more made to play with Diego.

‘I think Remy is learning how to play with us. His pace is good, his movement is good, he can get behind defenders, he’s not bad in the air. He has some similarities with Diego and if he has to play, no problem. But I prefer to play Diego.

‘There is a risk, yes. But we assume the risk and he plays. I don’t rest people. I make decisions. I don’t think about Arsenal on Sunday. I think about Sporting. I’m going to start with the team I think is the best team.’

All teams in Group G have a point each and Chelsea will be looking to take the lead in the group with a good victory against Sporting on Tuesday