Diego Costa’s response to being benched in Chelsea’s Premier League game against Tottenham on Sunday has been branded as “petulant” and “disrespectful” to the club’s fans by Jamie Redknapp.
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“Top players are not happy on the bench, so his behaviour is normal”. So for me a No. 10 is a very special player in my team, when I play with a No. 10, which in Chelsea in the last period we are doing. He added: “If he plays like he did in the early part of last season then yes”. Everyone has been on the bench – the captain [John] Terry, [Branislav] Ivanovic, [Gary] Cahill, [Cesc] Fabregas, Pedro and player of the season [Eden] Hazard.
“I think the message to all my players – not just Diego – is that when we play as a team, we are much better”. “When I decided not to play him, he went.
‘It’s the first time that Diego is on the bench unless he was on the bench for some little injury”, he said before the game. He is working well every day and his mood is positive.
“Maybe in the past it was different, more people were sure of their spots, but at the moment everyone is capable of playing and that is something I hope will make everyone focus, including myself”.
Chelsea now lie 14th in the EPL standings after a poor start to the season, yet Hazard has dismissed talk of a rift opening between the players and manger Jose Mourinho, insisting everyone is unhappy following their inconsistent start to the campaign.
“Diego was privileged because I kept him in the team for all these matches”.
“Defensively Tottenham are good, it is hard to play against them”.
“I think the team spirit is back and we are all again on the right track and want to do everything to try and get points back”. I’d be shocked if Jose didn’t get him back in the side and give him a bit of a slap on the wrists.
Chelsea has become the butt of all jokes this season.
“We play the champions. It is more important to them than us”.
“This is a good thing (that we are disappointed)”, said the Argentine, whose side remain fifth in the table. It was not always easy but we did a good job and tried to score.
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“We have to win if we want to finish in the top four”, said Hazard, who only came close in the first half with an off-target header. “A lovely save, the game could have been a win for us if that goes in”.
