COSTA STRIVES TO KEEP UP HIS PHYSICAL EDGE

DIEGO COSTA is determined to maintain the physical style which made him one of Europe’s most feared centre-forwards but he admits the memory of Emre Can and the three-match ban is playing on his mind. Costa agrees with Jose Mourinho, who claimed his 17-goal top scorer was off the pace due to the suspension imposed retrospectively by the FA for the stamp on Liverpool’s Can. Chelsea’s Spanish international striker is without a goal since mid-January and without a cup goal this season as he prepares for his first Wembley appearance, in the Capital One Cup Final against Tottenham on Sunday. ‘When I was at my best, I had that suspension and I still don’t know why it happened,’ said Costa. ‘I’m running a little bit behind, trying to do my best, working hard and hopefully I’ll be 100 per cent. ‘The truth is I didn’t even know how many games it was since I scored. It doesn’t worry me. What worries me is to be in the best physical form to score goals. ‘I know now that I have to be a little bit more careful, because it’s not the same when I do something as it is when someone else does it. ‘Something I do is talked about much more than another player. ‘I have to be extra careful but I’m never going to change the way I play. That’s what got me here. That’s the way I play.’ Tottenham’s former Sevilla centre-half Federico Fazio understands the aggressive nature of Costa’s game. The pair clashed in Spain and will meet again at Wembley. ‘I don’t have a problem with any defenders,’ said the Chelsea striker. ‘I’ve always played against great defenders. Fazio is a great defender. It’s going to be a very good duel and I’m hoping to be on the winning side.’ Spurs won 5-3 when the teams met at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day, although Costa preferred to recall a 3-0 Chelsea win from earlier in the season at Stamford Bridge. ‘There’s nothing extra, no revenge or anything like that, just a final and we want to win,’ Costa said. ‘It’s an important game whatever way you look at it. Never mind the opposition. We all know we are a good team and have the quality to win.’