September 29 – Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, battling against his team’s shaky start to defending their Premier League title, has complained about a “witch-hunt” by the footballing authorities against Diego Costa.
The Brazilian-born Spanish striker was banned retrospectively for three domestic matches by the English FA after being found guilty of violent conduct in the 2-0 win over Arsenal earlier this month.
But ahead of today’s Champions League Group G match at Porto, Mourinho said his team would lose every game if they had 11 Costas “because the desire to suspend him is so big that you wouldn’t have enough players to start the game. There is a witch-hunt going on against him.”
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, addressing the same news conference, agreed. “It’s very unfair what has happened to him. He’s a key player for us…a player who has to score our goals and finish our moves.
“If you want to win this competition you all have to be at the top of your game but you also need your big players to perform, he’s one of them for sure.”
Chelsea are 14th in the Premier league and Mourinho said he would not be afraid to drop key players. “Right now we have fantastic players but football is about today, not yesterday. To be untouchable in football, only consistency can give you that status.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734954643labto1734954643ofdlr1734954643owedi1734954643sni@w1734954643ahsra1734954643w.wer1734954643dna1734954643