Chelsea boss believes there is a campaign against Diego Costa [divider]
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho defended his striker Diego Costa following his stamp on Liverpool midfielder Emre Can in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg.
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“I don’t know what you understand by a stamp,” Mourinho was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
“Maybe you are already influenced by the campaign on the television with certain pundits saying Costa has committed a crime — the guy who says that must be nuts.
“It is a great campaign. We know how much that pundit loves Chelsea. You are a manager, on the bench, and these guys have a good seat, earning a lot of money, no pressure.”
Costa stood on Can’s ankle in the 12th minute of the match in what football pundits Jamie Redknapp and Thierry Henry believe to be a deliberate stamp.
Referee Michael Oliver failed to spot the incident and it looked as if his view was blocked by Reds midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Costa will find out before Saturday’s game against Manchester City whether he faces a three-match ban for violent conduct.
The Spanish international has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge.
Chelsea qualified for the Capital One Cup final following the win and will face either Tottenham or Sheffield United.
