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Costa set to start for Chelsea despite Spain absence

Diego Costa has been suffering from a long-term hamstring problem © Getty Images

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Jose Mourinho has confirmed Diego Costa will start against Liverpool and thanked Spain for leaving the striker out of their next squad, but insisted he did not ask for the player to be rested.

Costa's fitness has provoked more discussion than any other issue at Chelsea this season, with Mourinho effectively making public pleas to Spain coach Vicente del Bosque that he allow the striker some rest but stating that he could not directly ask for it.

Mourinho got his wish as Spain left the forward out of the squad to face Belarus in the Euro 2016 qualifiers next Saturday and Germany in a friendly the following Tuesday.

"I'm pleased, but I want to make it clear I did nothing to make it happen," Mourinho said. "He was protected in the Champions League match [away to Maribor] but, because the result was not good, I had to play him for 45 minutes.

"As a consequence of the work we're doing with him, we think he's ready to start tomorrow [against Liverpool] but obviously not to go with the national team. He'll have 15 days finally to rest and work properly, and that's fantastic news for us.

"Obviously, I give thanks for the decision made by the Spanish Football Federation, but I want to make it clear I did nothing to make it happen.

"He is fit to play, yes. Hopefully everything goes well, but yes he starts the game."

Mourinho also outlined Costa's programme for the next 15 days - a period the manager says the player has needed since arriving at Chelsea to solve an ongoing hamstring problem.

"Immediately after the match he'll have a period of complete rest, no training or treatment, not even another [massage] on his muscle," he said. "Just rest a few days. After that, to continue the specific work he's been doing without having a match to play even the next weekend.

"It's very good news for him and for us, and also for the national team. Normally now he has to go in the right direction. It's good for the Spanish federation to have a 'good' Diego, rather than a 'so-so' Diego."

Mourinho also confirmed that Loic Remy is fit and Chelsea have no other injuries but said that they still do not go to the game in 100% physical condition, due to the fact the Anfield match comes just two and a half days after the trip to Maribor.

"We will be mentally right," Mourinho added. "Physically, I don't know. But mentally is more important. The concern doesn't help me, so I have no concerns. On we go."

This article originally appeared on ESPNFC.com

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