• Euro 2016

Costa tells Chelsea: I won't risk fitness for Spain

October 6, 2014

Diego Costa has reassured Chelsea he will not play in Spain's upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg if he is not fully fit.

Although he has been in prolific goalscoring form since his summer move from Atletico Madrid, scoring nine goals in his first seven Premier League appearances, Costa has been struggling with a hamstring problem since last season and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho revealed recently the 25-year-old was barely training.

Mourinho would also have preferred to see his player rest during the international break in order to receive treatment.

Costa, nevertheless, was called up by Spain coach Vicente del Bosque for the upcoming qualifying double-header, and the Brazil-born forward insists he is ready to contribute.

"I'm here ready to play,'' he said to Spanish sports newspaper Marca after linking up with his international colleagues on Monday. "I've had some problems but it's getting better.

"I've already played three games in a week and the coach [Del Bosque] knows that I carry some problems but I will treat them during the week."

However, Costa also says he will not take any risks with his fitness. He added: "I don't want to be in the middle [of Spain and Chelsea]. Mourinho has not told me anything. One has to take into account that many times I am the one that makes the decision depending on how I feel.

"Here I have the confidence of the coach, the technical team, and if there is a problem I tell them. If I'm here and I'm injured then I don't play because it would be worse."

Costa, who made his Spain debut in March in a 1-0 friendly win over Italy, has yet to score for his adopted country after five matches but he is hoping to finally make an impact with the two-time defending European champions.

He said: "What I want more than anything is to succeed here [national team]. Up to now things haven't gone as I had thought they would or as people expected. This is why I really want to do a good job with Spain.

"I haven't scored but if you look at the games I've played, I haven't really had many opportunities to do so. I need to work hard in order to score my first goal, something which would make me very happy."

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