Chelsea dressing room loves me, says contrite Diego Costa

Diego Costa believes he avoided punishment for his bib-throwing display of petulance because “the dressing room loves me”.

The striker again backed Jose Mourinho to continue as manager after returning to the starting line-up following a two-game absence, as Chelsea beat Porto 2-0 to advance to the Champions League knockout stages on Wednesday night as Group G winners. The Blues want to translate the vastly-improved showing into the Premier League and Costa is keen to play his part after being dropped by Mourinho, with Eden Hazard deployed as a ‘false nine’ against Tottenham and Bournemouth.

When it became apparent Costa would not be used in the goalless draw at White Hart Lane, he appeared to fling his pink bib in the direction of Mourinho, narrowly missing him.