OPINION | Merson "Diego Costa has to play for Chelsea today" - Do you agree?

Paul Merson believes that Diego Costa has to start against Bournemouth today because if he doesn't then Bournemouth could get something from Stamford Bridge this evening!

What do you think on this? He is what Merson (A Chelsea fan) said:

"Diego Costa has to play for Chelsea. If he doesn't I think Bournemouth could get something.

Eddie Howe could set them up to squash the play and force Chelsea into playing it long. If they are forced to go long Eden Hazard, Pedro, Willian, and Oscar are not going to win any balls.

Bournemouth will be buoyed by the late goal they got against Everton. It was a big goal and something they can build on but it's not ideal for them to have to travel to Stamford Bridge straight away.

If Howe can get his tactics right and press Chelsea they will cause Jose Mourinho's side a few problems. If they don't it will be a comfortable win for the home side."

No disrespect to Eddie Howe or to his players, if they came to Stamford Bridge tonight and looked to push up, press high and squeeze the play, we have such creative ability in the side and pace in our attacking areas that we should be able to pick them off with balls in behind to create all sorts of problems for them.

In a way, I hope they do come out like that tonight. As for Diego Costa? I am still no 100% certain he should be starting because forgetting his antics on the bench last week, his overall contribution in games including his movement, has not been good enough at all.

You look at the Costa situation from the outside and you would hope that having him sit there on the bench for the whole game last week, it would have really got to him, so much so that he comes out fighting this week in training, putting the effort in with his head down to prove to the manager that he deserves to be playing.

Jose Mourinho spoke of Costa in his press conference yesterday and said of the past weeks training:

"Very good. Very good. I cannot say better than ever because, normally, he trains very well.

But a good week for him. Not difficult. I didn't ask him (about Sunday), but he trained very well. That's all that matters to me, that he trains very well.”

So, it seems that Jose has got the right reaction in training this week from the big man. Is that going be enough for him to force his way back into the side tonight?

What do you think? Do you agree with Paul Merson that if Costa doesn't start, we could struggle to get a result?