Guus Hiddink has revealed that Diego Costa faces a late fitness test to see whether he will join Pedro in the Chelsea team for tonight’s Champions League second-leg tie with Paris Saint-Germain.
According to the London Evening Standard, Pedro has missed Chelsea’s last two matches with a hamstring strain, and Costa sat out Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Stoke City to rest a minor tendon problem.
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Hiddink has confirmed that Pedro – a three-times Champions League winner with Barcelona – will be available at Stamford Bridge after returning to training on Tuesday, as the Standard reports.
Chelsea’s interim boss also said that Costa was back in training, but sounded less confident about the striker’s chances of starting, and indicated that he will be monitored closely ahead of kickoff.
“Yes, Pedro had a setback recently but did well – working hard with the physios. He made a good impression today and he will be back in the squad tomorrow,” Hiddink told the Evening Standard.
On Costa, the Dutchman added in the Evening Standard: “He had a little bit of a problem at the weekend, which is why he didn’t play. But he was in training today so we’ll see for tomorrow’s game.”
Hiddink also dismissed concerns over Costa’s Champions League form. The Spain international has one goal in 14 games for Chelsea in Europe’s top club competition – against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
But the revitalised 27-year-old has 10 goals in his last 14 matches in all competitions for the Blues, and Hiddink is optimistic that he can soon make a goalscoring impact in the Champions League.
Hiddink told the Evening Standard: “He scored recently in not the worst league in the world, the Premier League. He’s frequently scoring since December and January. Before, also, he had problems scoring as did the team. But let’s see and we hope he can make it on a European level as well.”
Chelsea trail 2-1 from last month’s first leg at Parc des Princes, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani strikes were separated by a crucial John Obi Mikel away goal which gives the Blues hope.
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