Jose Mourinho defended his decision to bring Diego Costa on during Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Stoke.
Costa was not fit enough to start the game, having recently returned to training after hamstring trouble.
With his side level at 1-1, Blues boss Mourinho opted to risk bringing the striker on but he lasted only 11 minutes before limping off.
Costa is now expected to be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks as his team look to clinch the Premier League title.
But a defiant Mourinho said: “In football we need risks.
“I risk sometimes and as a manager I risked in the second half. You have to risk and the medical department risked a little bit.
“But in all the scans from two days ago the muscle was clean. The player was convinced he was ready to play and help the team.
“As a manager, sometimes I have to risk things. And the medical department sometimes have to risk things. People who are afraid to risk cannot work with me.
“Between them, the player and myself things didn’t happen in the best way, but that’s football.
“He will have scans again and we are sure he will be out for a couple of weeks, but we have seven weeks and eight matches until the end of the season.”
Loic Remy’s second-half winner took Chelsea seven points clear at the top of the table.
The Frenchman’s goal came after Charlie Adam had equalised for Stoke with a sensational strike from inside his own half.
Mourinho added: “I’m happy with the points and happy with the performance.
“We didn’t play better because the opponent made a very good defensive performance. They were very well organised.”
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This post was last modified on 06/04/2015