Hiddink Defends Costa Against PSG Slurs

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has defended Diego Costa after Paris Saint-Germain labelled him a fraud ahead of their Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge.

On the eve of the clubs' last-16 second-leg tie, PSG's social media team produced a video montage of masked superheroes titled Spot The Fraud, which also included Costa, who has been playing with a protective mask due to a broken nose.

PSG manager Laurent Blanc warned his players to stay cool when facing Costa, who has scored 10 goals in 14 games under Hiddink, but has just one Champions League goal in two seasons and 14 games with the Blues.

Costa, who is available after missing Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke as a precaution over a minor tendon problem, has a reputation for riling his opponents.

He has never been sent off for Chelsea, but has served two retrospective three-match domestic bans during his two seasons in London.

"I'm very proud of him, the way he's playing and going not over the edge, but he likes to fight in the real way of the game," said Hiddink, whose side lost the first leg in Paris 2-1.

"That's what we like. I protect him and support him when he's doing what he has done in my period at Chelsea.

"He scored recently in not the worst league in the world. In the Premier League he frequently is scoring now, since December, January. Before he had this problem of not scoring, as did the team. Let's see and hope he can make it to the European level as well."

The Blues are up against PSG for a third straight season. Chelsea won the quarter-final tie in 2014 on away goals, but were defeated at the last-16 stage in 2015 by the same method.