Mourinho admits Diego Costa is already a leader at Chelsea

José Mourinho has hailed the character of star forward Diego Costa and insisted he is already becoming a leader at Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian-born Spanish international only transferred to Stamford Bridge in the summer but has set the Premier League alight during his first few months in England. Costa has scored seven times in four […]
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sambafoot_admin
2014-09-16 10:45:00

José Mourinho has hailed the character of star forward Diego Costa and insisted he is already becoming a leader at Stamford Bridge.

The Brazilian-born Spanish international only transferred to Stamford Bridge in the summer but has set the Premier League alight during his first few months in England.

Costa has scored seven times in four games and Mourinho praised the strength of his forward, after revealing how much of an injury doubt he has been recently.

The Portuguese boss spoke to the Daily Mirror, he said: "The most important thing of a player’s character is what affects his performance as a player.

"Diego was a risk and a doubt before Everton, a risk and a doubt before the Spain game, a risk and a doubt before this Swansea game [all because of a hamstring problem].

"He played all three and he is a risk and a doubt again for Wednesday against Schalke because of an accumulation of matches. But nobody can stop him."

Mourinho went on to laud Costa for putting the team ahead of himself and believes he is the type of character who will become a leader of this Chelsea team.

He added: "It is not about the modern player, it is about the modern society, where people tell them to be selfish, in the sense of themselves first and the team second. But with Diego it is, ‘The team first – they need me – and me second. I am ready to go for the team’.

"When you get guys with this mentality they become special and they can be an influence to the people around them. He is a leader, who knows exactly what the team needs and is ready to give it.’’