Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has told Spanish radio station AS that they will not risk striker Diego Costa’s long term fitness and allow him to play in the Champions League final if he is not completely healthy. Diego Costa has been injured quite often this season due to a recurring hamstring injury but he has been injured in both legs. Costa has been rushed back from injury far too many times this season and is often pulled from a match early because of the injury that he was supposedly fully recovered from.
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In a potentially historic season for Atletico Madrid, its understandable that Costa has been rushed back from the myriad of injuries he has suffered this year. He has shown time and again that he is a mentally strong player that is able to fight through injury but some you just cannot fight through. It is one thing to play through a few bumps and bruises but it is impossible to play through a strained calf or hamstring.
Enrique Cerezo on risking Diego Costa’s fitness for the final:
"“It depends on this horse placenta that he’s going to be treated with. I don’t know, because I’m not a doctor. And, to be honest, if it’s harmful to him then it’s best if he doesn’t play. But, if he doesn’t play, whoever plays in his position will do phenomenally well.We’ll look to go out and win. Depending on the course the match takes, we’ll win or we’ll lose; but the team is mentally prepared, is strong and is up for it. That doesn’t mean we’re going to win, but at least we’ll bring something to the match. It’s 50-50.”"
The decision that Costa has to make is to decide what is more important to him, the Champions League final or the World Cup. It is an unenviable position for the striker to be in because if he does play today, he may risk missing the greatest football tournament in the world. However footballers are not known for their long term thinking and if he thinks he can play today, he most certainly will.