Chelsea are set to be without Diego Costa for Saturday’s vital Premier League clash against title rivals Manchester City and are sweating on the fitness of Cesc Fabregas.
Striker Costa has been charged by the Football Association with violent conduct for his apparent stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can in the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final and is facing a three-game ban.
Fabregas suffered a hamstring injury in the same game that, despite manager Jose Mourinho claiming the midfielder went off as a precaution, has prompted fears he too could miss the City game.
Spain international Fabregas will undergo further tests on his hamstring on Thursday, as Chelsea decide whether or not to appeal Costa’s charge.
Leaders Chelsea are five points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League table and losing his best two players would be a major blow for Mourinho, who himself was fined £25,000 by the FA on Wednesday for claiming there was a "campaign” against Chelsea after the 1-1 draw at Southampton on December 28.
Referee Michael Oliver did not see the Costa incident with Can during the Liverpool game, but, on review, has informed the FA that he should have been sent-off. A second alleged stamp, on Martin Skrtel, was deemed to have been accidental and did not prompt sanction.
An FA statement read: “Diego Costa has been charged by The FA for violent conduct following an on-field incident which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
"The charge is in relation to an incident involving the Chelsea forward and Liverpool’s Emre Can which occurred in the 12th minute of the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge last night [Tuesday 27 January 2015].
"The player has until 6pm on Thursday 29 January 2015 to respond to the charge. Following a review of an incident during the game involving Costa and Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, The FA will not be taking any further action.”
Costa’s case has been fast-tracked so that his fate will be fully decided before the City game. Should, as expected, the player appeal then the FA will convene an independent commission on Friday to make a final judgement.
The most likely outcome is that Costa will be hit with a three-game ban that will rule him out of the Premier League games against City, Aston Villa and Everton.
Mourinho backed Costa after the Liverpool game, insisting his stamp was accidental, and Eden Hazard has also come out in support of the 26-year-old.
Asked if Costa’s fiery temperament motivates the Chelsea team, Hazard said: “Yes, yes, yes. When you play with this guy, you have to give everything. You can see in every action and for every ball, he gives his life. Even if he didn't score, he gave his life. For us, for the players, when you play with him, it's very good.
"In training he is a little bit different, but in the game he is very good. He never stops. He had a very good mentality against Liverpool.
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