According to Sky Sports, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed reports alleging Diego Costa’s future at the club is currently under review.
The Spain international has scored just four goals in 17 appearances across all competitions since starting the season overweight – a far cry from the 21-goal haul last term that fired the Blues to the Premier League title.
It has lead to claims that Chelsea are reconsidering the 27-year-old’s future in west London ahead of the January transfer window, which has seen the club linked to a number of potential replacements in recent weeks such as West Brom’s Saido Berahino, Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain, Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.
The rumours were further amplified by Mourinho’s decision to drop Costa for Chelsea’s last Premier League fixture against Spurs, prompting the 6 foot 2 striker to throw his bib at the Portuguese after discovering he wouldn’t be subbed on during a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.
But Mourinho has insisted that the tabloids’ reports are somewhat wide of the mark. Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth this afternoon (kick-off at 5.30pm), the 52-year-old said; “I don’t know why. For me no question marks. Always played, was on the bench one match, which I think is more than natural. No problems, no problems at all.
“I think he always tried to give his best, sometimes playing phenomenal, other times not so well. But he is a player that always tried. I didn’t ask him [his reaction to last Sunday], but he trained very well. That’s the only thing that matters to me. I cannot say better than ever because normally he trains very well.”