Guus Hiddink has spoken to Diego Costa about his conduct on the pitch in the wake of his first red card for Chelsea, received at Everton last weekend, as the Spain forward commences his second suspension of the season.
Costa was dismissed for two bookable offences at Goodison Park, the second of which came after a clash with Gareth Barry who made a point post-match of stressing the striker had not bitten him in their tête-à-tête six minutes from time. The Football Association have since determined the 27-year-old will also face no sanction for an alleged gesture directed at home supporters on the stroke of half-time, though the governing body have charged the forward with improper conduct relating to his reaction to being shown the red card.
A commission is expected to determine next week whether there should be further punishment for that offence on top of the two-match ban Costa will begin for Saturday’s visit of West Ham United to Stamford Bridge.
“Of course Diego is not happy because he desperately likes to play, but we’ll see if he gets another game a third game, as well,” said Hiddink.
“First, everyone wants to get on his kiss or ’bite’, and Barry made a very good statement by saying what did not happen. Maybe there was a little bit of searching for ‘where we can get’ Diego, and he was frustrated with that.
“Of course I’ve spoken to him. We’ve talked many times about him playing on the edge and his reactions, and we’re still happy with his performances. But I can never guarantee whether or not, bit by bit, he can be provoked. It is a matter of temperament and character. But we all would like is that he keeps playing as he has been, with a lot of ‘blood’ (and thunder). He has been contributing a lot to the resurrection since December.”
Costa has scored 11 goals in his last 16 appearances for Chelsea, but has been omitted from Vicente del Bosque’s Spain squad for their friendlies against Italy and Romania on the grounds that he is still suffering discomfort from a tendon problem in his hip. Eden Hazard has also been rested by the Belgium manager, Marc Wilmots, for their game against Portugal later this month with the playmaker expected to be absent for at least a month with his own hip problem.
There is a belief, with club and country, that he will benefit from a break with one eye on the summer’s European Championship.
Hiddink suggested neither Radamel Falcao nor Alexandre Pato, on loan from AS Monaco and Corinthians respectively, will be considered against West Ham as they continue to work on match fitness. Chelsea have no plans at present to cancel the latter’s arrangement, despite the fact he is yet to feature since moving to England at the end of January.
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