Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho played down any suggestion of a falling-out with Diego Costa after dropping the striker for Sunday's goalless draw at Tottenham.
Costa was not used at White Hart Lane as Mourinho lost patience with the striker, who tossed his substitutes' bib over his shoulder in the direction of his manager in the final moments of a stalemate which will do little to kick-start the Barclays Premier League champions' season.
Mourinho said: "If he wants to hurt me, it's not with a bib. I have a good relationship with him, no problems. I think Diego is very privileged because he was the last one to be (put) on the bench.
"Everybody was on the bench. I kept him in the team for all these matches and today we thought the best strategy to play was this one. We are happy with the decision."
Costa did not warm up ahead of the game and appeared pitch-side with trainers, rather than boots on, broadcasters sitting near the Chelsea bench reported.
Mourinho says Costa warmed up when instructed to do so.
"A top player going on the bench, they are not happy," Mourinho said. "For me his behaviour was normal. He was ready to play when they went to warm up."
Mourinho was frustrated that Chelsea were unable to secure victory at White Hart Lane, although he was proud of his side's efforts.
"I think it was, as a team, the best Chelsea (performance of the season)," he said. "I think we deserved a bit more than what we got, but I am really happy with the performance.
"The team defended like a team, defended with 11 players. The team with the ball was comfortable against a team that presses really well and aggressively.
"It is difficult to play against them but we were comfortable with the ball and we had our chances, which is not easy to create against them.
"We had our chances and a couple of them were really, really big chances, especially the fantastic save Lloris did on Hazard.
"I am very happy with the performance. We are not happy with the result but we are happy with the team. I think we have the team again and we look to the future with a better spirit."
