Diego Costa Injury: Updates on Chelsea Star's Hamstring and Return

Updates from Friday, Nov. 21

Diego Costa is, as expected, fit for Chelsea as they welcome West Brom to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho confirmed, via the club's official Twitter:

Updates from Friday, Nov. 7

Diego Costa is fit and will play when Chelsea travel to Liverpool this weekend.

Jose Mourinho confirmed, via ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney:

Costa has a minor pelvis problem, according to Spain boss Vicente del Bosque, who left him out of the latest international setup.

However, Del Bosque had not expected the issue to keep Costa out of the Liverpool game, per Ed Aarons of the Guardian:

Mourinho thanked Spain for leaving the striker off it's roster for their upcoming friendlies, according to AS:

"

"It's good for him, it's good for Chelsea and it's good for Spain. In this way Diego Costa can rest for a few days after the match on Saturday. I am very grateful, it's fantastic news."

Mourinho also said he had had no influence on the decision of Vicente del Bosque and his staff: "I would like to make it very clear that I have had nothing to do with this."

"

Updates from Saturday, Nov. 1

Chelsea's official Twitter feed reports the latest on Diego Costa's status:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

Diego Costa is fit and will play for Chelsea when QPR visit Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Jose Mourinho confirmed, via Chelsea's official Twitter:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 30

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has warned Jose Mourinho he will continue to select Diego Costa unless his medical staff give him reason not to.

Costa has seemingly been struggling with hamstring injuries all season, not helped by his international commitments according to Mourinho, but Matt Law of the Telegraph quotes Del Bosque saying:

"

In some things we are very flexible and in others stubborn, and in this we are stubborn.

I don’t know if we are right or wrong, but if we hadn’t called up Costa for the national team we’d definitely have been criticised for not having done so.

"

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 29

Diego Costa will be fit for Chelsea's upcoming league clash with QPR, according to Jose Mourinho.

Dan Ripley of the Mail Online quotes Mourinho saying: "Without any further complications, Diego Costa and Ramires will be fit to face QPR at the weekend."

Chelsea posted a Vine of Costa arriving for training on Wednesday:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 27

Kyle Bonn of Pro Soccer Talk shared an update on Diego Costa's status:

"

Neil Ashton, Daily Mail journalist and NBC Sports insider, revealed on NBCSN’s Premier League Live that Diego Costa‘s hamstring injury will eventually need to be operated on.

That would keep him out of action for approximately six weeks. But he doesn’t need to have it now.

At this moment, Chelsea are nursing Costa’s cranky hamstring through the season, leaving his status for each upcoming match in question and making things completely uncertain as the season goes on. Because of this, he was unavailable for the Blues’ match at Old Trafford as Chelsea only netted once in a 1-1 draw. He could miss other big games going forward if the issue isn’t ultimately addressed.

(...)

Ashton said Jose Mourinho obviously wishes for this eventual operation to happen during international duty so he misses as little time as possible for Chelsea. The Daily Mail man tabbed a Spain match with Belarus – the reverse fixture of Euro 2016 qualifying group stage – on June 14 as a possible time for the surgery. However, that means Chelsea will have to deal with a broken Costa throughout the rest of the season and he would still miss the beginning of their preseason activities for the 2015/16 season.

"

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 26

Diego Costa is not in the squad for Chelsea's matchup vs. Manchester United:

Earlier, Gary Neville reported on Costa's prematch status:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 24

Diego Costa could yet feature for Chelsea when they visit Manchester United this weekend.

Jose Mourinho revealed, via ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney:

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal commented on Costa's status, according to Ian Herbert of the Independent:

Spain assistant coach Toni Grande has risked re-opening the club-vs.-country row with Mourinho and Chelsea over the fitness of Costa.

The striker is currently sidelined by injury and illness, but Grande told Radio Marca there was never a consideration that Spain would not use him in the recent Euro 2016 qualifiers with Slovakia and Luxembourg, per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan:

"

He told us that if we did not call him it would not be a problem. That never came into our heads. How are we going to ignore a player like him, the top scorer in England? We would be crazy.

"

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 23

The odd case of Diego Costa's fitness status continues to be a mystery according to Matt Law of The Telegraph: 

"

The mystery over Diego Costa’s condition has deepened after it emerged that the Chelsea striker was forced to spend time in hospital after returning from international duty with Spain.

Costa is struggling with a groin injury, but has also been battling an illness that forced him to go to hospital. Chelsea have not specified the illness and whether Costa is fully over it, but it is understood that the 26-year-old had symptoms similar to a severe stomach bug. That he has two problems goes some way to explaining the level of anger felt by Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, over the condition in which his leading goal-scorer returned to the club last week.

"

Costa has since left hospital, per BBC Sport's Ben Smith:

 

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 22

Jose Mourinho has once again indicated he does not expect Diego Costa to be fit for Chelsea's weekend trip to Manchester United.

Loic Remy is also ruled out, leaving the Blues with Didier Drogba as their only forward option, per Rob Harris of the Associated Press:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 20

Diego Costa has been ruled out of Chelsea's Champions League clash with Maribor, and Jose Mourinho admits the hamstring victim is unlikely to face Manchester United on Sunday.

Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail tweeted Mourinho's update:

Mourinho later confirmed Costa's absence from the Maribor match via Chelsea's official Twitter:

Updates from Saturday, Oct. 18

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho talked about Costa's timeframe, according to Chelsea's official Twitter feed, and ESPN's Miguel Delaney:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 17

Diego Costa is once again a Chelsea doubt as the Blues prepare to take on Crystal Palace this weekend.

Jose Mourinho reported the news via Chelsea's official Twitter:

Matt Law of the Telegraph reports that "Costa will continue to be treated by Chelsea in the hope he can return quickly, but there is a real worry inside Stamford Bridge that he may require a three-week rest."

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 7

Diego Costa has delivered good and bad news to Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, first insisting he is fit to represent Spain over the coming days, but tempering that claim by insisting he won't play if he feels his injury.

Chelsea have been nursing Costa through his hamstring troubles, and will no doubt fear the strain of two international matches, but Costa said, per ESPN:

"

I'm here ready to play. I've had some problems but it's getting better. I've already played three games in a week and the coach [Vicente Del Bosque] knows that I carry some problems but I will treat them during the week.

I don't want to be in the middle [of Spain and Chelsea]. Mourinho has not told me anything. One has to take into account that many times I am the one that makes the decision depending on how I feel.

Here I have the confidence of the coach, the technical team, and if there is a problem I tell them. If I'm here and I'm injured then I don't play because it would be worse.

"

John Terry, meanwhile, has potentially exposed Mourinho's fears over Costa to be fake. According to the Chelsea skipper, Costa has no fitness concerns, per ESPN:

"

I'm not sure where that's coming from. He isn't showing that in training. He looks sharp, he looks angry, he looks aggressive.

He's fit and that's the main thing. Diego has been a nightmare for defenders.

"

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 5

Chelsea announced Diego Costa's role for today's match:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 3

Diego Costa has been named in Spain's squad for their upcoming international fixtures, somewhat against the wishes of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Football Espana and Mundo Deportivo confirmed the news:

Jose Mourinho reacted to the news by insisting Costa will face Arsenal this weekend, regardless of what condition the striker is left in for international duty. Chelsea's official Twitter and Miguel Delaney of ESPN report:

Vicente Del Bosque explained that Costa will only feature if doctors clear him to play, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC:

"

If we are bringing Diego Costa it is because he is fit. We never force anybody to play. They always have the all-clear from the doctors. He is playing all the games [with Chelsea].

"

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 2

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has confirmed he will be fit to face Arsenal this weekend.

Costa's fitness is an ongoing concern, but he was quoted saying the following by the Daily Mirror's Martin Lipton:

"

Of course I will play against Arsenal. I am certain. I played 90 minutes [in Lisbon] and now I can have a rest. I do not see a problem.

There are a few niggles that are annoying me, but I am working to treat them during the week with the physios and the medical staff. Every day I feel closer.

Yes, there are days when I do not train so I can prevent problems, but there are other days when I can train. It is a matter of communication between me and the medical staff to find the best way possible to move forward and get over the problem.

"

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 1

Diego Costa has risked a club vs. country row between Chelsea and Spain by insisting he is fit for the forthcoming international break.

Jose Mourinho had appeared resistant to his striker risking his hamstrings while not on Chelsea duty, but Costa is quoted saying by Marca (h/t ESPN):

"

I hope I am okay to go with Spain. If I played 90 minutes it is clear that I am fine, I am feeling better all the time, and it is the boss's [Vicente Del Bosque's] decision.

"

Updates from Tuesday, Sept. 30

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Diego Costa will start for Chelsea in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Sporting.

Sky Sports provides the latest from the Chelsea boss:

"

Diego starts. There is a risk, yes, but he plays. We assume the risk and he plays. Hopefully everything goes well and hopefully from Tuesday till Sunday he has enough period of time to be back again on track and to play against Arsenal (in the Premier League).

"

Updates from Friday, Sept. 26

Diego Costa is a confirmed starter for Chelsea's weekend clash with Aston Villa, revealed by Jose Mourinho on Friday.

He may well be rested again for their midweek Champions League clash, per Chelsea's official Twitter:

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 24

Diego Costa has sent a worrying message to Chelsea's Premier League rivals, revealing he is nearing 100 percent fitness.

Costa opened up on his recent hamstring troubles, as quoted by Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star:

"

I am still carrying some hamstring discomfort, but every day I feel better. The truth is that over the past week I have worked fine.

[...] I'm working to get the best physical condition soon. The games we have now, almost every three days, will help me to get fit.

"

Updates from Sunday, Sept. 21

Chelsea announced Diego Costa's status for today's match:

Updates from Friday, Sept. 19

Diego Costa will start for Chelsea when they face Manchester City this weekend, Jose Mourinho confirmed on Friday.

Cheslea's official Twitter provides the latest:

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 17 

Sam Wallace of The Independent provides an update on Diego Costa's injury from manager Jose Mourinho:

 ESPN FC have more from Mourinho:

"

Costa has a problem," Mourinho said of his striker. "If he has one week to let the muscle recover he can start a game. Playing on Saturday, three days is not enough for him to recover.

It was not to protect for the game Sunday [at Manchester City], it was because today he was not in condition to start the game.

 

"

Updates from Saturday, Sept. 13

Chelsea's official Twitter feed provided good news regarding Costa:

Updates from Friday, Sept. 12

Chelsea's official Twitter feed provided an update on Costa courtesy of manager Jose Mourinho:

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 11

Get West London provide the latest on Diego Costa's status:

"

Chelsea are optimistic that striker Diego Costa will be fit to face Swansea City on Saturday. 

Costa was pulled out of the Spain side to face Macedonia in the week, after picking up what was described as a 'minor' injury to his leg in the preceding international friendly against France. 

But reports say the Blues believe he will be available for the visit of the Swans to Stamford Bridge on Saturday – but that a decision will be left until late in the day on whether he will feature.

 

"

Updates from Monday, Sept. 8

Dominic Fifield of The Guardian reports Chelsea's current belief on Diego Costa's potential return:

"

Chelsea are cautiously optimistic they will have Diego Costa available for the top of the table meeting with Swansea City when the Premier League campaign resumes on Saturday despite the Spain striker having withdrawn from the squad for his country’s opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia on Monday evening.

[...]

The London club have conducted their own examinations since the player returned to Cobham and, while the Brazil-born forward has suffered worrying niggles in his hamstrings over recent months, there is some optimism that this latest twinge is not serious.

He will continue to be assessed over the remainder of the week ahead of the visit of Swansea to Stamford Bridge where at least one of the sides, currently first and second in the fledgling table, will drop their first points of the season. That game is followed by Chelsea’s first Champions League fixture of term, against Schalke on Wednesday.

"

Updates from Saturday, Sept. 6

Oliver Todd of the Daily Mail provides an update on Diego Costa's injury from the perspective of David Silva:

"

However, Spain team-mate and Manchester City playmaker David Silva does not believe the injury is particularly bad - raising hopes that Costa could be fit to face Swansea at Stamford Bridge next weekend, as well as Silva's Manchester City a week later.  

'I saw Costa was doing well and I talked to him. The injury is nothing serious,' Silva said. 

 

"

Original Text

Chelsea fans all over the world wanted to avoid an injury to top striker Diego Costa at all cost in 2014-15, but on Friday, the talented Spaniard withdrew from the national team roster due to a hamstring issue, according to Spain's national team's official Twitter feed:

The Brazilian-born forward joined the Blues in the summer of 2014 and was widely hailed as the team's top purchase of the transfer window, as the striker position had been identified as the main issue holding the team back from winning the title.

He proved to be an immediate hit, scoring almost at will in his first outings for the Blues.

Costa's health was a concern, however, as he suffered several minor injuries that derailed the latter part of his 2013-14 campaign, including an odd cameo-appearance in the Champions League final.

Jose Mourinho gambled on the trio of Costa, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy to lead the attack during the 2014-15 season, and plenty of fans immediately agreed that the success of that campaign would ultimately come down to Costa's health.

According to WhoScored.com, Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba combined for a paltry 18 Premier League goals last season. Costa scored 27 for Atletico Madrid, dwarfing the production of every forward on Chelsea's squad last year.

Losing Costa long-term would severely hinder the club's Premier League title chances, and fans will have to hope team doctors have some good news for them in the coming days.

The Blues have plenty of attacking options available in support of the striker, and Mourinho will now likely have to rely on solid production from his platoon of wingers and attacking midfielders to help offset the loss of Costa.