Mourinho Confirms Diego Costa Will Miss Man Utd & Arsenal Games Through Injury

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Diego Costa is set to miss crucial upcoming games against Manchester United and Arsenal through injury.

Costa was forced off during Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Stoke City last weekend just 12 minutes after coming off the bench with the striker pulling up clutching his hamstring.

Reports earlier this week suggested that the Blues medical staff feared the injury was worse than the one Costa suffered against Hull City last month and it was initially thought he’d be out for two weeks.

However, speaking to the media this afternoon ahead of Sunday’s clash with QPR, Mourinho has confirmed that the Spanish international is unlikely to play again this month with the Portuguese coach expecting Costa to play in the final four matches of the season.

When asked by Sky Sports for an injury update, Mourinho said:

“Only Diego is injured, everybody else is fine and ready.

“I think we have eight matches to play, if he plays four it is normal. If he plays three he is a bit below what I am expecting.

“If he plays five that is more than I am expecting.

“I am not concerned (by his injury).”

If this timescale proves accurate, then Costa will miss Sunday’s game against Queens Park Rangers as well as the upcoming crucial double-header with Man Utd and Arsenal.

There’s a chance he could return to face Leicester City on the 29th April, but a more realistic comeback date is against Crystal Palace at the start of May with Costa then expected to be available for subsequent games with Liverpool, West Ham and Sunderland.

Mourinho may say he’s not concerned by the injury but it will come as a major blow as the league leaders get set to face their local West London rivals before taking on second and third-placed Arsenal and United.

While Chelsea have a comfortable seven point cushion at the top – with a game in hand – defeats against the Gunners and United would blow the title race wide open so I’m sure Mourinho would rather be able to call upon his top-scorer in those games.

In Costa’s absence, Loic Remy is expected to deputise up front having scored late winners in each of Chelsea’s last two games against Hull and Stoke.

In other team news, Mourinho also confirmed that John Obi Mikel is fit while Cesc Fabregas is available but will play with a protective face mask after undergoing surgery to fix a broken nose suffered last week.

‘Everybody else is fine and ready. Mikel is ready, Fabregas with a mask is ready too. No problems.’ Mourinho told Chelseafc.com