
Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed striker Diego Costa will start their
Champions League round of 16 game with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Costa has just served a three-match domestic ban after being found guilty of
stamping on Liverpool's Emre Can during their Capital One Cup semi-final
victory.
Mourinho has given the Spain international the green light despite
previously admitting concerns over throwing him straight back in for such a
crucial match.
"Yes, I start him. But I don't think it's good for a player to be three
weeks or three matches without starting a game," so I don't think he's in
the best of his condition," said the Portuguese.
Midfielder John Obi Mikel was the only player not involved in Monday
morning's training session and did not travel with the remainder of the
squad to Paris as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Chelsea will hope for a similar outcome to last season when the two sides
met at the quarter-final stage of the competition.
The tie finished 3-3 on aggregate, with Eden Hazard’s penalty in the 3-1
first leg defeat in Paris proving crucial.
The Blues will go into the game in good spirits, having finished comfortably
top of their Champions League group, while continuing to set the pace in the
Premier League.