Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claims he had no issues with his players going on a night out that lasted into the early hours of Thursday morning.
Some members of the Chelsea squad went out in London on Wednesday night, with Diego Costa being one of the players pictured leaving a night club in the capital. Costa was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last weekend and appeared to throw his bib at his manager in disgust when he realised he wouldn’t make the field of play.
Far from being angry about the incident, however, the Portuguese boss admitted the players ‘needed’ the party and that they went out on the town with his blessing. He said, “The next morning everyone trained very well, they were happy. They told me the dinner was good and the after-dinner was better”.
Mourinho saw Thibaut Courtois return to the starting XI for the home match against Bournemouth on Saturday, a game that Chelsea went on to lose 1-0. Courtois’ presence in the line-up was one of the only bright moments for the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’. He said, “To lose your number one for three months, something like 19 matches without the best goalkeeper in the world, is tough for us. Thibaut was our keeper all last season and you know how fundamental he was, it’s important to have him back”.
The Chelsea manager also claimed that there are no problems between him and his Brazilian born Spanish international striker Diego Costa, despite those photographs surfacing of him enjoying his night out after the player’s party. Mourinho said, “He’s been very good, he trained very well. Diego is the type of player who always tries. I just need him to be what he is, I don’t need a reaction”.
He will be hoping to see a reaction from his players after they suffered their fourth home defeat in their last seven matches and their eighth defeat in the Premier League this season. The defending Premier League champions sit just three points off the relegation zone and fourteen points away from Manchester United in fourth spot.