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Good news on Diego Costa but bad news on John Terry as Chelsea start PSG preparations

Clive Mason/Getty Images

While it made sense for Diego Costa to finally get a rest this weekend, after 13 straight starts and with crucial games coming up this week in the Champions League and the FA Cup, his absence from the starting lineup and even the substitutes bench was surprising.  Guus Hiddink, after all, was very clear that Costa wanted to play and all but wrote him into the starting lineup already for Saturday's game against Stoke City.  So what happened?

A conveniently timed injury?  Another concerning turn of events?  The proverbial leash to force Diego to take the day off?   Mind games out of PSG manager Laurent Blanc's books?

After the match, manager Guus Hiddink wasn't concerned.  Just a precaution.

So that's good news.  Unfortunately, things are looking less positive for John Terry, whose hamstring injury is expected to continue keeping him sidelined.

"John Terry, I don't think he will be ready to be play, but the rest are fit to play I think."

-Guus Hiddink; source: Sky via Goal

Prior to the match, the story was that Terry would undergo some sort of fitness test to determine his availability for PSG.  Now, it sounds like Hiddink is far less optimistic.  Hopefully our defense manages to cope with Zlatan Ibrahimovic better than with Mame Biram Diouf, who should've hat a hat-trick on Saturday.  Hush, let me hope.

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