Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has explained that Chelsea striker Diego Costa is a very important player, but needs to change his mentality in order to excel in the future.
The Chelsea striker is serving a three-match ban for his stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can and won't be playing in the match against the Chilean's side tomorrow.
While clarifying that Costa's absence will not provide his team with any additional advantage, the 61-year-old added that the ban will help to make the former Atletico Madrid player a better and more mature player in the future.
"He is a great player, a very important player", Pellegrini said at a press conference.
"He has his character, it is not an easy character.
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"But I hope for him that this punishment – and I am not trying to take advantage for the game tomorrow – it will be a good thing for him to change in the future because he doesn't need to do it in that way because he is a very good player, a top player."
Costa has been in good form for the Pensioners this season, having scored 17 goals in 27 matches played so far and has also provided his team-mates with two equally important assists.
The Citizens, who are placed second in the league table will try to narrow the gap at the top of the table when they take on Jose Mourinho's team tomorrow.
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