Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that striker Diego Costa is unfairly singled out by the media.

The Spain international was banned retrospectively for three matches by the FA after a clash with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny last month, but returned from his suspension to score in Saturday's 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

Mourinho has claimed that the media's portrayal of Costa is unfair because they do not show opposition players provoking him.

"He will be targeted until the moment people point the finger at them and show the images, re-show the images and have the top pundits speaking about it," Goal.com quotes the Portuguese coach as saying.

"When you lose him we're a bit in trouble because the team always depends on a striker like him, from a character and personality like him.

"Diego isn't a leader in the dressing room, he doesn't even speak English well, but in the game, the way he plays, the way he gives his body to the cause is brilliant."

Costa has scored three times in nine games for Chelsea so far this season.