MX23RW : Tuesday, January 7 12:03:40| >> :120:48335:48335:

Julen Lopetegui: 'Chelsea did not force Diego Costa withdrawal'

Lopetegui: 'No Chelsea pressure on Costa'
© SilverHub
Spain manager Julen Lopetegui insists that Chelsea played no part in Diego Costa's withdrawal from the squad through injury.

Spain manager Julen Lopetegui has insisted that Chelsea did not play any part in Diego Costa's withdrawal from the squad through injury.

The in-form 28-year-old pulled out of the matches against Macedonia and England on Thursday after sustaining muscle injuries during Chelsea's 5-0 victory over Everton last weekend.

Reports had suggested that Chelsea wrote a letter of warning to Spain over Costa's fitness, but Lopetegui insists that it was Spain who made the decision to send him home.

"No, no, not at all, the clubs do not pressure, we make the decision. We always give priority to our conversation with the player," Lopetegui told Cadena Ser.

"The clubs, in this case Chelsea, inform us of a situation but then logically we are the ones who monitor the evolution.

"After the game [with Everton, Chelsea doctors] told us about the problem. At first it seemed a minor issue but there are times that muscular injuries don't have a good evolution, as has been the case."

Former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas replaced Costa in the squad.

ID:285102: cacheID:285102:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2330:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Diego Costa of Chelsea in action during his side's Premier League clash with Southampton at St Mary's on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Injury forces Costa out of Spain duty
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!