‘ I’m so proud of him’
duels, challenges, even provocation at times. That’s part of his game. We saw that last year. He’s a player used to playing like that. He doesn’t just do that against PSG.
“I will tell my players not to respond to that. We’ll need all our strengths at our disposal tonight. We need to stay with 11 on the fi eld, so we can’t respond to any provocation, be it from Costa or anyone else. We have to stay calm.”
Hiddink, who has transformed Costa’s form since taking over in December, said: “Diego has behaved very well for me and I’m very proud of him, the way he’s playing and what he has done.
“He’s not going over the edge but he likes to fi ght in the proper way of the game and that’s what we like. I protect him and support him when he’s doing what he has done in my period at Chelsea.”
Costa missed Saturday’s draw with Stoke with a minor calf problem but trained yesterday, as did Pedro. But skipper John Terry will again miss out.
Terry said: “I’m gutted to be missing the game. It’s so frustrating. These big Champions League nights at the Bridge are unbelievable and it hurts not to be involved.”
Sources in Italy last night claimed that current Azzurri coach Antonio Conte, who could be confi rmed as Chelsea’s new manager next week, may be at the match.