LONDON -- Jose Mourinho has accused sides like Newcastle of raising their game against Chelsea, saying that their other matches are "like friendlies" in comparison.
Mourinho, 51, takes his Premier League table-toppers to St James' Park on Saturday, which is one of just two stadiums he's never won at in the league along with Villa Park.
When asked why that was, Mourinho said it was down to the way in which some teams respond when they face the Stamford Bridge club.
"Let's try tomorrow. It's difficult, a difficult stadium to play at," he told Friday's pregame news conference. "There are a few stadiums in this country where, clearly, when they see the Chelsea shirts, they play the game of their lives.
"When they play against other teams they look like they're playing friendlies. Maybe this is because Chelsea, in the last decade, became a strong team that everybody wants to beat."
Mourinho did confirm that Diego Costa will return to the starting lineup following his midweek suspension for the 3-0 win over Tottenham, and that Gary Cahill is fit enough to travel with the squad despite suffering a knock to the head in that same match.