Terry fresh and motivated - Mourinho

John Terry and Radamel Falcao are certain starters for Chelsea in the League Cup, Jose Mourinho confirmed.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists John Terry is motivated for Wednesday's League Cup clash against Walsall as he confirmed Radamel Falcao would also start.

Terry has been on the outer, leading to suggestions of a rift – which has been denied – with Mourinho, while Falcao has been behind Diego Costa in the pecking order.

Both will line up at Walsall on Wednesday and the Portuguese manager said the duo were ready.

"Of course John's experience will help," Mourinho told the club's website.

"He didn't play the last match so he is completely fresh and completely motivated to play, the same as Falcao for example.

"Chelsea is Chelsea, and wearing the Chelsea shirt always brings responsibility. Every player is more than happy to play."

The duo's inclusion will be a huge boost in a competition in which most clubs offer youngsters an opportunity.

Mourinho said he wanted Chelsea, who are the defending champions, to be competitive.

"I don't see reasons to throw away any competition. A cup is a cup. A trophy is a trophy. If you lose, you lose but you don't need to throw it away," he said.

"So yes, we look to the competition in a proper way, and I also think it's very important to respect opponents. I don't think opponents from the Championship, League One or League Two expect the big clubs to go and play against them without the best players.

"They want a big day for themselves. Imagine if we go to Walsall without any one of our most important players - even if they won I don't think the feeling would be the same. For Walsall players and Walsall supporters it's important the big teams show that respect and that commitment.

"In the FA Cup we lost against a League One club [Bradford], which can happen. Walsall are a good team. They are playing well and trying to be promoted. For them it's a big occasion and as I was saying, it's important to respect them and to go with a good team with the desire to win."

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Shearer: Costa went too far against Arsenal

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has revealed that he likes Diego Costa but admits that the Spain international crossed the line in his altercations with Gabriel Paulista on Saturday, as per Goal.com.

Confirmed: Arsenal successful in appeal, Gabriel cleared to play for the Gunners

Chelsea’s prickly striker has been known for his belligerent style since his days playing in La Liga; never allowing himself to be at the mercy of defenders, Costa plays the game on the edge of what is acceptable.

When Costa brought up an old feud with Gabriel – the two clashed when playing for Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, respectively – at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the result was the unjust dismissal of the Arsenal centre-back after an underhand back and fourth.

Costa and Gabriel clashed after the striker got involved in a confrontation with Laurent Koscielny.

Shearer has picked out this performance as being Costa’s first major over-stepping of the mark since joining Chelsea.

“I would describe him as an aggressive wind-up merchant,” Shearer wrote in the Sun, via Goal.

“I would rather have Diego Costa in my team than against me, but he is treading a fine line.

“He is a street fighter. I like his aggression and the way he doesn’t allow himself to be bullied by big central defenders.

“But there is a line and he crossed that against Arsenal.”

The former England striker knows all about the tussles between central-defenders and strikers that have been all but filtered out of the modern game.

Incredibly, Costa managed to not record a single foul against Arsenal despite picking up a yellow card for dissent, and has not been sent off since 2012.

It is rare for a striker to so conspicuously wind up defenders; Costa is somewhat of a throwback to a more physical game and Shearer sees the usefulness in the more acceptable sides of the Spaniard’s game.

“Winding up defenders is fair game — it happens, whether you like it or not. Central defenders try to kick you and Costa is turning it around and doing the same.

“You try to get one step ahead of the game and stand up for yourself. You let the defenders know that you won’t be intimidated and they can’t kick you.”

Costa is likely to face a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the FA and Mourinho has confirmed that he will not feature in Chelsea’s mid-week Capital One Cup tie with Walsall on Wednesday.

Costa has scored just one goal in his six Premier League appearances this season