Football
Miguel Delaney 9y

Diego Costa warned by Jose Mourinho following ban for stamp

Jose Mourinho says Diego Costa has to be "careful" with referees and other players because of the reputation he has developed with them, but reiterated that the Spain striker does not have to change his behaviour.

Mourinho, who has suggested there is a "campaign" against his side, feels there is a victimisation of Chelsea's top scorer Costa, following the suspension for an adjudged stamp in the League Cup semifinal against Liverpool.

The Portuguese said: "He has to be careful but not with his behaviour, but because of the way other players and the way referees look at him, not the way he plays. Since he arrived in England I think he's doing very well."

Mourinho did insist that the fourth official would have an "easy job" in this Sunday's League Cup final, due to the respect between himself and Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino.

He said: "It is a relationship without problems. I like the guy, feel that he likes me. I cannot say we are close friends, because in football you normally don't have time to develop close relationships but he is a guy I respect, I feel he respects me too. It's the same with his staff, good people, doing his work.

"We don't have problems, I think it will be an easy job for the fourth official because in between both benches, for sure, peace and we do our jobs."

Mourinho did decline to speak about Nemanja Matic's suspension, following his red card last week against Burnley for a reaction to a challenge with Ashley Barnes.

"If I speak again about Matic situation, I will be in big trouble."

Meanwhiole, Mourinho confirmed his only absentee for Sunday's match at Wembley, beyond Matic, is the injured John Obi Mikel.

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