Diego Costa threw his training bib in the direction of manager Jose Mourinho after being dropped to the bench in Chelseas goalless draw with Tottenham. The Spain international cut a frustrated figure as Chelsea fired a blank against London rivals Spurs, with playmaker Eden Hazard starting in the main strikers role. Left on the bench despite scoring the winner for the Blues against Norwich last week, Costa - seemingly realising he wasnt going to get on, removed his pink bib in the second minute of injury time and flung it in the air, narrowly missing Mourinho as it sailed to the ground.
Mourinho appeared oblivious, fully focused on the dying embers of Sundays clash, as his side played the game out to earn a point. When pressed on the incident after the game, Chelsea manager Mourinho revealed Costa was privileged to have kept his place in the team up until now and said: Diego is privileged because he was the last player (to go) on the bench. He is privileged I kept him in the team so long. I was not expecting a player to be on the bench jumping and singing, a top player on the bench is not happy. If he wants to hurt me, its not with a bib.
‘I don’t like my subs to warm up. I just want them to be mentally ready to play for when we need them. There’s no issue between me and Diego, it was just a decision. Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who sat next to the forward on the White Hart Lane bench, watched as Costa removed the bib before watching its trail. The Nigeria international appeared to giggle, as the garment fell behind Mourinho and his coaching staff. Costa has managed just three goals in the Premier League this term, and his poor form has coincided with Chelseas, the reigning champions have already lost seven games this season but did move up to 14th after the draw.