Injuries to Diego Costa and Gary Cahill give Chelsea a headache

Spain striker suffers yet more hamstring trouble as defender is left with suspected broken nose
Pain game: Gary Cahill takes a punch in the face
Simon Johnson29 July 2015

Diego Costa has handed Chelsea an injury scare just 10 days before the start of the season after limping off with a hamstring injury against Barcelona.

The striker’s first season at the club was undermined by a series of hamstring problems, and he was forced off just before the hour mark at FedEx Field here last night.

Costa sat down to ensure the referee stopped play and once the whistle blew, walked straight off the pitch for treatment rather than joining his team-mates on the substitutes’ bench.

Manager Jose Mourinho said: “Diego felt a little thing in his hamstring. We believe just a feeling, no more than that, but we have to wait.”

Even if it proves to be a minor injury, the Spain forward could be a doubt to face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and Swansea on the opening day of the Premier League season at Stamford Bridge six days later.

More worryingly for Chelsea is that the issue has resurfaced despite Costa being given extended time off during the summer to fix it.

He sustained the problem while still at Atletico Madrid and lasted just nine minutes of the 2014 Champions League Final. Despite being Chelsea’s top scorer last term with 21 goals following a £32million transfer, his hamstring struggles continued.

The 26-year-old started only 24 Premier League games and scored just three times in the final four months of the campaign.

Chelsea have back-up options in Loic Remy and their loan signing from Monaco, Radamel Falcao. But Remy also missed periods last term through injury, while Falcao scored just four times while at Manchester United.

Costa will have further medical tests when the squad return to London today. He was not the only player to suffer last night. It is feared that Gary Cahill broke his nose while heading the late equaliser in a 2-2 draw when Barcelona goalkeeper Jordi Masip tried to punch the ball clear.

Mourinho said: “Cahill has a chance of a broken nose. If he’s not perfect, he goes tomorrow to get a mask to be ready to play on Sunday.”

Overall, Mourinho will consider Chelsea’s pre-season tour of North America to be a success, despite not winning a game in normal time.

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After the shock of losing against New York Red Bulls 4-2 last Wednesday, the squad have shown improved stamina and quality in the 1-1 and 2-2 draws against Paris St Germain and Barcelona respectively.

Five things we learnt from Chelsea vs Barcelona

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Against Champions League holders Barca, who were without Lionel Messi and Neymar, Chelsea’s best attacking moves came, once again, through Eden Hazard.

He opened the scoring with one of the best goals of his career, gliding past four players before slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net in the 10th minute.

Barcelona, who faced their former midfielder Cesc Fabregas for the first time since he joined Chelsea, hit back in the second half through Luis Suarez and Sandro Ramirez, only for Cahill to earn a share of the spoils.

Chelsea then won the penalty shoot-out, as they did against PSG, with Thibaut Courtois coming to the fore on both occasions.

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