Jose Mourinho Calls out Diego Costa Critics, Asks Pundits to Defend Chelsea Man

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has called upon pundits to lend more support to controversial centre-forward Diego Costa after the Spain international was embroiled in more flashpoints during his side’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

The 27-year-old tangled with both Ashley Westwood and Micah Richards during the clash at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho had high praise for the frontman for not reacting to what he viewed as provocation and called out analysts on their supposed double standards when looking at these incidents, per Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail:

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I’m pleased he didn’t react, but I would be even happier if the people who find his hypothetical or real negative moments were honest the other way and show and show and show.

He will be targeted until the moment people point the finger at them and show the images, re-show the images and have the top pundits speaking about it.

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When asked whether Mourinho felt as though the Football Association would punish Westwood, who appeared to grab Costa’s groin, and Richards, who barged the forward over while he was getting up from a challenge, he responded, “let’s see what happens.”

Costa scored one goal and played a key part in the other as the Blues earned an overdue win. It was the first time he had been in the team for Chelsea since picking up a retrospective three-match ban for his antics against Arsenal on September 19.

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Although the champions weren’t at their free-flowing best, at least with Costa they had a focal point at the sharp end of the pitch. John Cross of the Daily Mirror thinks the forward is going to be central to Chelsea if they are to turn their season around:

As does Mourinho. “When you lose him we’re a bit in trouble because the team always depends on a striker like him, from a character and personality like him.” said the Portuguese, relayed by Gaughan. “Diego isn’t a leader in the dressing room—he doesn’t even speak English well—but in the game, the way he plays, the way he gives his body to the cause is brilliant.”

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Perhaps more than anything, the Blues need him to preserve this clinical touch in front of goal. Last season, Costa flew out of the traps in terms of goalscoring, but as we can see here, courtesy of OptaJoe, neither he nor any other Chelsea player has been particularly prolific as of yet this term:

The forward sets the tone for this team. Mourinho’s sides have always been at their best with a barrel-chested, battering ram of a striker at the point of the attack, and Costa, for all of his issues with temper, does a sterling job in that sense. Indeed, his style and reputation mean he’s often the target of various niggles from defenders too.

Highlighting the matter is likely to make pundits and referees take a second look at incidents involving the former Atletico Madrid man. But defenders would be better advised not to rile Costa; he’s a forward who is even more of a threat when he’s playing with fire in his belly, as Villa found out in earnest.