Give my Diego a break! Jose Mourinho tells Chelsea and Costa critics after Aston Villa win

Diego Costa is the man everyone loves to hate, and was up to his usual tricks against Aston Villa

JOSE MOURINHO wants the world to lay off Diego Costa and give the guy a break.

 

Because he knows just how crucial the Spaniard is to Chelsea's season.

Costa returned after yet another ban - this one for three matches - and the controversial striker was the key factor in Chelsea registering only their third league win of the season.

The Spain star niggled, worried, angered and generally drove Villa's defence barmy. He was grabbed by the naughties at one point by the infuriated Ashley Westwood, and had another bust up with Micah Richards. But for once Costa mostly kept his cool, scored one goal and luckily forced in a second via Alan Hutton's heel - and took the heat off his manager.

A fit Costa who does not get into a scrap and banned is crucial to Mourinho's efforts to turn Chelsea's campaign around. Without the spiky Diego leading them the Blues are a blunt instrument.

 

And Mourinho, who despite his confidence that his job is safe might have been in trouble had his team lost this one, knows it.

He said: "Of course we need Diego. When we lose him we're in trouble. The team depends on a striker like him, a character and personality like him.

"I know teams try to wind him up. I'm pleased he didn't react, but I would be even happier if people who find his negative moments were honest the other way. He will get that until the moment people point the finger and show what happens.

"At the moment he is the bad guy, and in the next matches they will do the same. People have a big desire to find the negative things about him.

"But Diego is about more than the goals. It is the character, the personality, the movement, the ability to stretch the game when the team is under pressure.

 

Mourinho is keen to protect his striker who believes receives more stick than he deserves

"He takes responsibility. That's why he is Diego. He is an influence. He is a very good player. That's what you try to find - leaders in teams. Diego isn't a leader in the dressing room - he doesn't speak fluent English - but in the game, the way he plays, the way he gives his body to the cause - a body that is always punished - he is brilliant."

The man who was in the other dugout on Saturday is right now under even more pressure than Mourinho.

After seven defeats in eight games, Tim Sherwood's side are in deep trouble, and next Saturday's home game with Swansea is a must win affair, with the likes of David Moyes being heavily linked with his job.

Villa actually started well but did not take their chances, as Hutton blazed across the face of goal and Rudi Gestede went close. But then goalkeeper Brad Guzan's terrible throw put Joleon Lescott in trouble and Willian robbed him to set up Costa's first goal.

 

More errors allowed Cesc Fabregas to put in Costa for the second via the unlucky Hutton- and there was no way back.

The Villa boss, as ever, was not hiding: "I'm trying to instil in them not to be scared to lose. If anyone should be scared to lose then it should be me. But I'm not. I want to go out on the front foot and if I die, I die on my sword.

"If you want to play for a big club like Villa then you've got to take pressure. That applies with the manager as well and I hope the fans can see I won't shirk it.

"I can't control what the owners do. I can only control what I can do and I remain confident in that."

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic 7; Azpilicueta 7, Zouma 7, Terry 7, Rahman 5; Ramires 7, Fabregas 7; Willian 7 (Remy 90 6), Loftus-Cheek 6 (Matic 46 6), Pedro 6 (Hazard 82 6); Costa 8.

Booked: Willian.

Goals: Costa 34, Hutton og 53.

A Villa (4-2-3-1): Guzan 5; Hutton 6, Richards 6, Lescott 5, Richardson 5 (Amavi 63 6); Gueye 6, Westwood 6; Ayew 6 (Traore 67 6), Gill 6, Grealish 6; Gestede 6.

Booked: Ayew, Richardson.

Referee: Roger East.

Stat of the Day: John Terry made his 465th league appearance for Chelsea, putting him joint third in the all time club list alongside John Hollins.