Costa must read the game better – Mourinho

“He told be also a few nice words from where he was. Nothing happened at half-time”.

“Everything is OK, no problem, no problem”.

Drogba, who scored 12 goals in 14 games in his debut MLS season for Montreal Impact, said: “Do not forget last season”. That was my opinion. As a striker he must read. You have to anticipate things and read the game faster. Everything is an accumulation [of confidence]. He knows how to score goals and will learn how to deal with players in this league, and everything will be okay. “It’s all a process”.

6ft 2in Costa has been criticised this season for his combative style of play, which has seen him pick up three yellow cards in 11 games, and at times look more interested in confrontation than goalscoring. Loïc Rémy’s wife is due to give birth and he could be withdrawn late from the squad.

Now on the verge of ending his football career, Drogba has revealed that he will return to Chelsea someday as he has an agreement in place with the board to return.

Jose Mourinho has suggested Tottenham have it easy and are under no pressure ahead of Chelsea’s trip to White Hart Lane.

He said: “Nobody speaks about them as title contenders like they speak about Manchester City, United, this and that”. “They lose a couple of matches and nothing happens”. They are in the Europa League, and, in the group phase, to be fair, nobody cares about Europa League. And the conditions too. “I don’t read”, the Chelsea boss is quoted as saying by The Mirror. When I was in a team whose objectives were not to be relegated, in December we were third and it was fantastic. They bring in young players. If not, it’s something very natural.

It would take an unprecedented rise, plus numerous rivals dropping points, for Chelsea to retain the title or even to finish in the top four this season.

“We have a little hope that it’s possible”, Mourinho added. Last year’s Player of the Year, Eden Hazard, looks a shadow of the attacking winger he was in the previous season and has been blamed for several selfish passages of play in recent games.

It is inconceivable to think that a shambolic start like this for Chelsea means that Mourinho is a bad manager who has lost his tactical knowhow.