Diego Costa: Chelsea striker says throwing bib at Mourinho was a mistake

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho still believes his team can win the Champions League despite their struggling start to the current campaign, Skysports reports.

Chelsea will need to be at the top of their game ahead of their next Premier League clash against table-toppers Leicester City on Monday.

Whether he will still be in charge when the competition resumes in February will depend on an improvement in domestic affairs, but Costa believes Mourinho is not at fault for their miserable season so far.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho revealed his satisfaction with his side’s performance in their 2-0 win over FC Porto, describing his charges as “brave”. However, a draw or a win will guarantee them a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.

“We had John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, but I don’t really see as many leaders in this side compared to when I was there”.

With three straight wins and only one goal conceded in them, Porto will be confident that they can kick Chelsea while they’re down, and secure top position in Group B while they’re at it.

“They don’t want to play Barcelona, they don’t want to play Real Madrid, they don’t want to play Atletico (Madrid), they don’t want to play Bayern (Munich)”.

Having come off the bench during the 1-0 weekend defeat to Bournemouth, he was restored to the starting line-up against Porto and forced the opening goal as his attempt deflected in off Ivan Marcano, before Willian clinched victory in the second half.

I think how much for their pride they do not want to go to the Europa League.

If Chelsea are to piece together the kind of winning run that would convince Abramovich not to sack him, Mourinho must get more from Diego Costa, the misfiring Spain striker who played a key role in the opening goal against Porto but generally looked desperately short of confidence. “His lack of confidence?”.

“Sometimes we have been better than other teams and still lost, that doesn’t say anything about our commitment, results are just not there. It was a great decision by the official on the goal-line and we never get that in the Premier League, despite the fact it’s goal-line technology”.

“One thing is when one thing doesn’t work, but when four or five players are not playing (well) it is more hard”.

“The first goal was obviously an own goal but his movement was great when the pass arrived”.