Diego Costa could be fit to face Manchester United, claims Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho
The Spain international has missed the Blues' last two matches but could make a timely return in Sunday's big Premier League game
Jose Mourinho today claimed Diego Costa could be fit to play Manchester United on Sunday.
Blues boss Mourinho is desperate for the Brazilian-born hitman to be fit to lead his line at Old Trafford after he aggravated his hamstring injury on Spain duty.
Costa's recovery was hampered by a virus that saw him hospitalised overnight on Tuesday but with Mourinho confirming Loic Remy is out for "two or three weeks" with his groin pull, the Chelsea manager will give his nine-goal top scorer all the time he needs to prove his fitness.
Mourinho said: "Diego has a chance, he has a little chance.
"Remy, no chance. Diego a little chance, the same as Mikel and Ramires. The only one I can confirm has no chance is Remy."
Shaun BotterillRuled out: Loic Remy limped off after scoring against Maribor
The Chelsea boss added: ''Everything happened to him. He was obviously injured. That was the hamstring.
"Then he had to go to hospital with the viral situation that we didn't manage to resolve without being in hospital over one night. That was before Maribor.
"Against Maribor he wouldn't have been ready from the injury, no chance. But being ill didn't help the process of his recovery because we didn't want him at Cobham.
"So the medical staff had to go to his house because we didn't want to bring him here with viral situation.
"Today he trained individually but not yet with us.
"I'm not saying he can play. I'm saying we're trying. We will see what happens by Sunday. Remy has no chance, Diego has a little chance."
If Costa is ruled out, Didier Drogba is likely to lead the line, although German Andre Schurrle has now recovered from his illness.
Sunday's game pits Mourinho against his former mentor, Louis Van Gaal, but the Portuguese was reluctant to discuss too deeply his relationship with the Dutchman or two of his former players now at United, Angel Di Maria and Juan Mata.
Mourinho said: "Man United is Man United. For me it doesn't matter the manager, the moment, the table, the players. Man Utd is Man Utd and I always look at them independent of these factors.
"Louis and I have only played each other once, yes, because we were never in the same league.
"That's not important. What's important is that I don't play against Louis Van Gaal. It's Chelsea against Man United. During the match I have no time and he has no time to look around and see who opposing manager is. Before and after he's one of my big friends and I will always be happy to see him.
"He was important. He gave me a good opportunity to work at a high level. As a young coach to be working four consecutive years, one with Mr (Bobby) Robson and three with Louis in club like Barcelona was very important. If I had to choose important people in my career for sure he's one.
"But it's not the moment to talk about what might have happened without him. I have never hidden the respect and relationship and his influence. But this is my opponent. Don't make me speak nicely about him for half an hour!''
Chelsea's win over Maribor - in pictures:
Didier Drogba celebrates with team mates after scoring the second goal for Chelsea from the penalty spot
As for Mata and the Spaniard's claim he had ''no relationship'' with the man who sold him for £37million in January, Mourinho replied: ''For me Juan is a very good player and I look at him as a very good player.
"I don't look at him as a special player because of certain circumstances. Because if I did there would have been 20, 30, 40 players who we sold or decided to leave. It happens.
"For me it's not a problem. He's a very good player and very good players are dangerous. A few weeks ago when we played Everton and Samuel Eto'o it was the same.
"There was lots of talk. He scored his goal. We did our job. The relationship is good. I look at Juan as a very good player, no problem.
"But don't ask me about players from other teams. I don't want to speak about them.
"If I bought Di Maria it was because I liked him. If he was fantastic at Real Madrid for me, good. Now he plays for United.
"It's a little bit like with Louis. Fantastic relationship, very good memories, but for 90 minutes we both want to win."
