Diego Costa will start up front for Chelsea against Manchester City, confirms Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Diego Costa will be fit to lead the line at Manchester City on Sunday but will be rested against Bolton in the Capital One Cup.

Costa is nursing a hamstring problem which needs rest and not in the top condition, according to the manager.

When asked about his squad's fitness ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Mourinho said:

 'Everybody’s ready. Diego (Costa) is not in the best condition but he will start. 


'He plays this game but he cannot play against Bolton, as simple as that. He plays Sunday and not against Bolton, then he plays against Aston Villa.

'That’s his evolution. Let’s hope he goes in the right direction and becomes available for every game.

'Last season he was at Atletico Madrid, this season the problem was in the national team but I don’t want to speak about it. The player is fantastic in his amazing attitude to play.

'I know what we have and clearly that we have to protect him until he gets completely fit.'

Sunday's match also raises the possibility of Frank Lampard facing the Blues for the first time since leaving this summer.

And Mourinho insists it is not 'strange' that Lampard is now at City but he would not have foreseen the move just months ago.

'It’s football - not strange,' he said. 


Source: Daily Mail