There are times when you think that manager and captain should be in unison but if Jose Mourinho is playing mind games with regard to Diego Costa then he has forgotten to tell his captain anything about it.

Mourinho left Costa out of the Community Shield squad yesterday - a game that Chelsea lost - and claimed after the game that the player was injured and was potentially a doubt for the visit of the Swans on Saturday.

Less than 24 hours later and you have his captain declaring that the player had been fit in the lead up to the game and deflecting the question back to the manager.

‘You will have to ask the manager. He’s looked good in training and everything, so whether it was just a precaution, I don’t know,” Terry said.

“He’s a top player so he’s going to be missed in all teams.

“But it was a chance for Loic to stamp his authority in the side and for Falcao to come on in the second half.

“It’s down to those boys to fight for their place. We have three great strikers and they will all be fighting.”

If there was ever any doubt that Garry's words of last week were accurate this has now killed those elements off it seems reasonably clear that Jose is playing mind games which is a little odd as his team will start as clear favourites for the game whether Costa is in the team or not.

Terry knows that it will be difficult for his team to emulate their success of last season where they were clear Premier League Champions but he insists that despite a distinctly average run of form in pre-season that they are ready for the challenge ahead

The most important thing is the Swansea game and the three points,” he said.

“We have experience in the squad, we have the character. It’s going to be even tougher this year. We go again and prepare ourselves for Swansea.”

Photo: Action Images

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