Mourinho: Costa fit for Chelsea's clash with QPR

Posted Saturday, November 01, 2014 by Goal.com

The Blues boss says his Spain international striker needs "special care" but insists he will not stand in the way of him representing his country

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Diego Costa is available to face QPR on Saturday after recovering from injury.

The Spain international has missed four matches with a hamstring problem, which created tension between Mourinho and Roja coach Vicente del Bosque.

Now that Costa is to return to action against QPR at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho has stated that while he has no problem with players representing their countries, he feels that his star striker's fitness has to be carefully managed.

The Portuguese told reporters on Friday, "He played for the national team and we lost him for four matches: Crystal Palace, Maribor, Shrewsbury and Manchester United - four matches in three different competitions.

"Now he is again available but he needs to be under special care.

"I'm always supportive of players playing for their countries when they are in the condition to do so. But I'm nobody to stand in the way of the national team; I can't stop him going away with his country.

"It is good for us. It's difficult when you only have one striker available, but when you have two the situation improves."

Despite Costa's comeback, Mourinho is expecting a difficult game against a QPR side buoyed by a much-needed win over Aston Villa on Monday night that lifted Harry Redknapp's men off the foot of the Premier League table.

"I think I know what to expect from QPR, and I can say it will be a difficult game for us," the two-time Champions League winner added.

"It's the first time I play against QPR. London is a special place because of the number of derbies, which makes it unique."

Mourinho also praised striker Didier Drogba for his recent displays, with the Ivorian having netted three goals in his last three games, against Maribor, Manchester United and Shrewsbury Town.

"Me, the owner, the board, him - we all decided together for him to come back - we believed in him and he believed in himself and that he could still be important," he said.

"He has been fantastic for us in the last week when we were in real trouble, without Diego [Costa] and without Remy.

"He had to do what no one should do - play 90 minutes of football with 48 hours difference and he managed to do that in a fabulous way."