Jose Mourinho says goal-hungry Diego Costa isn't event training at the moment – but he needs more of a rest.
Bur Mourinho said his first choice striker is nowhere near fit enough for the Premier League campaign, and needs to be given a rest by his national side.
"Costa is doing almost nothing in training," he said.
"He is just resting and recovering from the tight muscle he has.
"If he doesn't go to the national team, and if he stays here for those 15 days just having treatment and recovering, making the muscle and the areas around his muscle stronger, he has the perfect chance to be top for Chelsea and top for his national side.
“If he doesn't have this period to put himself in good condition, it will always be, play one game, in trouble in the next - the muscle is tight and in danger and could rupture.
"But it not his fault that he has to join up with Spain for international duties, there are a lot of Diegoes out there. We cannot do anything about it.
“I wont speak to the Spain manager about this. I don't do that.
"The players from the moment they are selected, they belong to them, and everything is in their hands, and we, as a club, have to respect that.
"I want to start him on Tuesday (against Sporting Lisbon). I hope he now goes home and sleeps, that will be a good start.”
