Mourinho delivers latest Chelsea injury update ahead of PSG clash

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Chelsea striker Diego Costa will start against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Tuesday night.

The 26-year-old has been forced to sit out Chelsea’s last three Premier League games after the Spain international was banned for stamping on Liverpool defender Emre Can.

The Blues have managed to score just three goals in three Premier League games in the absence of Costa, who has netted 17 times in 19 top-flight games this season.

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea manager Mourinho didn’t hesitate to confirm to the assembled media at his press conference at Parc des Princes that Costa would make an immediate return to his starting line-up.

Mourinho said: “Yes, I start him. I don’t think it’s good for a player to be three weeks or three matches without starting a game”

Mourinho confirmed that Brazil international Oscar is fit after a minor injury forced the midfielder to miss their 1-0 win against Everton last week, but John Obi Mikel is still sidelined with muscular problem.

When asked about PSG’s injury-ravaged squad with Yohan Cabaye, Serge Aurier, Lucas Moura and Marquinhos all set to miss the visit of the Blues, Mourinho mischievously replied:

“When the French players were on holiday we played five games in 10 days so don’t speak to me about game accumulation.”

Chelsea beat PSG over two legs in Champions League quarter-finals last season.