Diego Costa sent warning by Chelsea boss Potter ahead of Stamford Bridge return

Graham Potter has backed cool Thiago Silva to tame fiery Diego Costa on the Chelsea legend's return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Brazilian-born Spain striker won two titles and a host of Blues fans before his acrimonious departure in 2017. Five years and four Chelsea head coaches later, Costa is back in the Premier League with Wolves and set to duel with Brazil centre-back Thiago today.

Costa turned 34 on Friday but Silva, who turned 38 last month, is the oldest player in the Premier League and will be the linchpin of Brazil at the World Cup. And after controlling Milan's Olivier Giroud in the Champions League in midweek, Potter said: "Does Thiago have the experience and temperament to handle Costa? Yes, of course. Every opponent gives you a battle. He has the respect for every opponent and for football.

"He knows it is tough. He knows if you take your eye off it, it can punish you. But that is where he prepares himself so well. He is a top professional. Against Milan, I thought he was outstanding. His reading of the game, his positioning, his organisation of the backline was fantastic. Aerially he dealt with Giroud which is not easy, competed well with him.

"He's 38 years old, 38 years young and when he's playing like that, he's an impressive person, that's for sure. I've really enjoyed working with him, he's a character, a proper guy you can tell - that's got a fantastic experience behind him but has a humility to just so the job and that's nice to see.

"If you want to look for someone who makes the most of his career and his body and making sure he is performing at the highest level, he is a great example of that."

Who will get the better out of the Costa vs Silva dual? Have your say here

Costa went on strike back in Brazil after winning his second Premier League title - and an infamous text from then boss Antonio Conte - and never got to say goodbye to the Chelsea fans.

"Everybody at this knows how good he has been," said Potter. "Will he get a good reception? I am not sure. I would hope so. Always when players have achieved something at a club, you hope that. But that is not for me to decide of course."

Scans revealed Wesley Fofana suffered a knee ligament strain against Milan and could be back before the World Cup. "Wesley is not as bad as we thought so there's a chance of that," Potter said.

New chairman Todd Boehly watched training at the Cobham training ground and yesterday planned to meet Potter for talks. "He's not in goal or anything in five-a-side," Potter joked.

The American co-owner has been filling the role of sporting director since the summer departure of Petr Cech. But German Christopher Vivell, who signed Erling Haaland for RB Salzburg, has been dismissed as technical director at RB Leipzig and is set to join Chelsea.

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