Manchester United vs Chelsea: Jose Mourinho to push for Diego Costa to play at Old Trafford

Any decision on whether Costa is fit or not will be delayed until after training on Saturday

Sam Wallace
Saturday 25 October 2014 11:35 BST
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Jose Mourinho hopes Diego Costa will feature against Chelsea
Jose Mourinho hopes Diego Costa will feature against Chelsea

Jose Mourinho says that he will push Diego Costa as hard as possible to play against Manchester United tomorrow because no game at Old Trafford should be missed if at all possible.

The Chelsea manager said that Costa had "a small chance" to play having last figured against Luxembourg for Spain on 12 October. He confirmed that the players had spent a night in hospital around a week ago after coming down with a virus, and that any decision on whether Costa is fit or not will be delayed until after training today.

Mourinho said: "I don't protect [a player] before a Manchester United game unless he cannot play. If there's a chance to play, then Old Trafford is not a place to protect players. It's a place to put players out who want to play and are ready to play. If he's ready to play, he plays."

Mourinho also said that he judged selection for this game to be more difficult than the corresponding fixture last season in August when he picked a team without a recognised striker.

He said: "This time it's even more difficult because in August every player was available. At this moment not everyone is and I still don't know who is available. Normally two days before a game I know the team. I have no doubts, everything clear in my brain. At this moment I don't know who is available. I have to think about things and formation."

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