We have a duty to help Armenia in the fight against the aggressor - Anne-Laurence Petel European Council's Political and Security Committee Members to visit Armenia Armenia government makes allocations to hold events for Parajanov, Aznavour 100th birth anniversaries Yerevan ex-mayor Hayk Marutyan is founding political party ‘Europeans for Artsakh’ discusses upcoming actions toward protecting Karabakh’s interests Consistent support to 16 Armenian Educational Institutions Operating in Lebanon Secretary Blinken and USAID Administrator Power will join a U.S.-EU trilateral meeting with Armenia Argentina’s Milei bans gender-inclusive language in official documents RA NA delegation meets with UAE delegation within the framework of 148th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union Ucom launches network modernization efforts in a few regions of Armenia 

Chelsea 1 Schalke 1: Jose Mourinho admits Diego Costa cannot play every game after Champions League draw

Sport


Jose Mourinho has revealed that Chelsea’s top goalscorer Diego Costa cannot play three games in a week because of his hamstring problems.
Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, tried to rest Costa for the Champions League Group G opener against Schalke by handing Didier Drogba a first start since his return to the club. The move backfired, as Drogba missed two good chances and Chelsea squandered a one-goal lead to draw with their German opponents.
Costa, along with Loïc Rémy, was thrown on for the final 16 minutes, as Chelsea chased a winner but it was too late. Mourinho defended his decision by insisting that Costa, who injured his left hamstring on international duty with Spain, cannot play three games in a week. He has ruled the 25-year-old out of the Capital One Cup tie against Bolton Wan­derers next week, which follows the key Premier League match at Manchester City on Sunday.
Costa battled hamstring problems at the end of last season with Atlético Madrid and also sustained a hamstring scare ahead of Chelsea’s victory against Everton, before picking up a new injury with Spain.
“Costa has a problem and he can’t play in this moment three matches in a week,” Mourinho said. “If he has one week to let the muscle recover, he can start again like he has been since he had that problem with the national team. But three days, after Saturday, is not enough. It was not to protect him for the game for Sunday, but because today he was not in the condition after Saturday.

“He came to us and was completely fine. He had a problem again in the national team, not with us. And now we have a problem and now we have to resolve it as best we can. Today he was not in condition to play. Sunday we believe he is. Next week, against Bolton, for sure he isn’t. We have to manage the situation until the moment he’s completely fine.
“I don’t know [how long that will be]. If today he had started the game, for sure he could not play on Sunday. We have to go step by step.”
Mourinho refused to criticise the Spanish national team over their handling of Costa by saying: “He went to the national team in perfect conditions and came back injured. But what happened to Diego happens to many other players in other national teams. I have nothing to say about it. It’s just what happens. He played one match and was perfect, then went to the national team, played against France and came back injured.”
Drogba was handed his first start since returning to Chelsea in the competition in which his last touch was to win the trophy. He scored the winning penalty for Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich before moving to Shanghai Shenhua.
Even with Costa’s hamstring problems, the decision to bring Drogba straight into the starting line-up was a surprise, given the 36-year-old missed the Premier League victory over Swansea City with a swollen right ankle. It was hard to judge whether it was the troublesome ankle or just age, but Drogba struggled to find the pace of the game and missed two good chances.
Chelsea were a goal up through Cesc Fàbregas, when Drogba first missed his kick in front of goal after being teed up by Willian and then shot wide with just Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann to beat.
Scoring either of those chances would have wrapped the game up for Chelsea and ensured a winning start to their Group G campaign, and Drogba’s failings were compounded further as his miss around the hour mark was followed by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s equaliser.
“Didier had a positive game,” Mourinho said. “I’m happy with what he did. If he scores that goal we’d be speaking about 2-0, not 1-1, and him scoring a goal with fantastic movement and a great shot. I’m not disappointed with a striker because, one inch, he doesn’t score or not. He had a positive performance. I’m happy with that.”
Referee Ivan Bebek played a big role in both goals, as he ignored claims for fouls in the build-ups to the 11th-minute Chelsea opener from Fàbregas and Huntelaar’s leveller.
Fàbregas produced a late challenge on Max Meyer that left the Schalke midfielder rolling in agony on the floor. But Bebek allowed play to continue, Eden Hazard picked up the loose ball and set up Fàbregas to score his first Chelsea goal.
Schalke were furious and captain Huntelaar was booked for leading their protests. It should really have been Fàbregas who was yellow carded for his challenge on Meyer.
Schalke will claim justice was done in the 62nd minute, however, as Huntelaar appeared to foul Fàbregas in the middle of the pitch, but Bebek did not stop play. One-time Arsenal target Julian Draxler picked the ball up and ran at the Chelsea defence, before feeding Huntelaar and the Dutchman produced a great finish to beat Thibaut Courtois and equalise.
Substitute Rémy saw a shot headed off the line by Roman Neustädter and Hazard went close to winning the game for Chelsea on two occasions in the final stages, shooting over the bar and forcing Fährmann into a good save.
“In the last 15 minutes, Rémy, Terry, Hazard could all score,” Mourinho said. “We had so many great situations, but that’s football. Defending like they did is also football. Good point for them.
"Not a fantastic point for us, but still a point. In a short competition of six matches, one point is one you get and two you don’t.”

Հետևե՛ք -ին Youtube-ում`
We have a duty to help Armenia in the fight against the aggressor - Anne-Laurence PetelEuropean Council's Political and Security Committee Members to visit ArmeniaAbu Dhabi plans to create paradise for gamers: World's first eSports islandNature Neurology: Chemicals in baby wipes can damage brain structures, study showsArmenia government makes allocations to hold events for Parajanov, Aznavour 100th birth anniversariesArmenia to provide $300,000 to Japan for earthquake reliefArmenia MP: Euronest called on EU to increase humanitarian, financial aid for forcibly displaced Karabakh childrenQatar Airways has introduced first virtual flight attendant operating in AIYerevan ex-mayor Hayk Marutyan is founding political party‘Europeans for Artsakh’ discusses upcoming actions toward protecting Karabakh’s interestsKim Kardashian is sued over furnitureForeign firms' losses from exiting Russia top $107 billion: ReutersConsistent support to 16 Armenian Educational Institutions Operating in LebanonPutin says Russia will not attack NATO countries, but F-16s will be legitimate targets “wherever they might be located”Pashinyan: Some circles forcibly displaced from Karabakh are taking steps that create threat to Armenia’s securityState Department disagrees with Azerbaijan comments on upcoming US-EU-Armenia meetingNo official versions of Crocus City Hall terror attack voiced yet, PeskovNewspaper: Generals are gone, Armenia PM has decided to hand over some Tavush Province settlements to AzerbaijanDeath toll from Crocus City Hall attack reaches 143Secretary Blinken and USAID Administrator Power will join a U.S.-EU trilateral meeting with ArmeniaVolvo launches its last diesel carRevisit the Tom Hanks Oscars acceptance speech that Spielberg called ‘incredible’CONCACAF Nations League final between US men’s team and Mexico stopped twice by ‘discriminatory chanting’Argentina’s Milei bans gender-inclusive language in official documentsLukashenko undermines Putin’s Ukraine claim on Moscow concert hall attackSteven Spielberg: ‘The echoes of history are unmistakable in our current climate’Russia MFA spox: We do not use the term ‘Zangezur corridor’Armenia does not join CSTO statement condemning terrorist attack in Moscow RegionWhich Samsung smartphones will receive AI functions tomorrow?Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan discusses Yerevan-New Delhi direct flights with Indian counterpartCentral Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metalsRA NA delegation meets with UAE delegation within the framework of 148th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary UnionUS and South Korea want to block oil supplies to North KoreaCharity dinner: “Successful Businesswomen Support Novice Women Entrepreneurs”Parliament speaker: No part of Armenia territory is subject to negotiationFrance-Armenia friendship group of National Assembly of France visited Armenian Genocide MemorialAraratBank places its 27th issue of dollar bondsUcom launches network modernization efforts in a few regions of ArmeniaEU and US will share responsibility for any destabilizing action: HajizadaNumber of those injured in Moscow attack rises to 360US State Department warned Israel of international isolation if it launches a large-scale operation in RafahStart of dialogue on visa liberalization between Armenia and EU will be important step for deepening relations: Friends of Armenia Network reportWashington's goal is to help Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve lasting peace. MillerPalestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza climbs to 32,414: ministryEU mission presented situation in Gegharkunik to French delegationOil Prices DownTigran Balayan to Toivo Klaar: Azerbaijan is gearing up for new aggression against ArmeniaXiaomi unveils cheap smartphone Poco C61, which has flagship designFrench Ambassador to Armenia reminds about right of return for Nagorno-Karabakh ArmeniansLukashenko briefs on Belarus’ role in detaining Crocus City Hall attackers
Most Popular