• International football

Costa defies Mourinho in club versus country conflict

Diego Costa completed 90 minutes against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night © Getty Images

Enlarge

Diego Costa says he does not want to get caught up in a 'club v country war' but appears to be defying Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho by declaring himself fit for Spain.

Brazil-born Costa has had a stop-start beginning to his international career with his adopted country and pulled out of their most recent qualifier against Macedonia with a hamstring problem.

Mourinho, who has continued to play his £32 million summer signing despite the long-running injury issue, suggested last week that Costa needed to use the next international break to recover properly.

But the striker has said he is fit and wants to be named in Spain's squad for their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg.

"I hope I am okay to go with Spain," Costa told Marca after completing Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League Group G win at Sporting Lisbon. "If I played 90 minutes it is clear that I am fine, I am feeling better all the time, and it is the boss's [Vicente Del Bosque's] decision."

Asked after whether he feared a 'war' could break out between Mourinho and Spain coach Del Bosque, the Brazil-born player said: "I do not believe that could happen. I have already had enough with the issue about Brazil. Now I must stay relaxed to be able to work and do things well, with the national team too."

Despite declaring his fitness, Costa admitted he has needed special training to enable him to overcome his hamstring problem, which hampered him regularly through the final stages of last season when he was at Atletico Madrid.

"During the week I am working in an intensive way with the physios, because I have some issues from a while back," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd