Costa told to ‘anticipate chances better’ by frustrated Mourinho

Diego Costa: Handed words of encouragement from Jose Mourinho

Diego Costa: No problems after team Chirstmas night out

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned Diego Costa he wants to see a marked improvement in his goals output – starting in Sunday’s showdown with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Costa is under pressure to deliver having scored just just four times this season, the most recent in the win over Norwich.

The striker and Mourinho had a heated exchange at half-time of Tuesday’s win at Maccabi Tel Aviv which Mourinho afterwards played down.

Yet it is clear the Portuguese wants more from Costa.

“I told him, from a distance, with gestures, that I was not happy with the movement he did,” Mourinho said.

“He told me also a few nice words from where he was. And nothing happened.

“He’s not reading the game properly in these actions. That was my opinion.

“As a striker you must read it. You have to play not just when you have the ball, but also when others have the ball.

“You have to try to anticipate things. Just a question of reading the game faster.

“It’s not because you score one goal against Norwich that suddenly you are again on fire. It will be a process.”