Nemanja Matic: 'Diego Costa is very important to Chelsea'

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has insisted that controversial striker Diego Costa is of great importance to the current Premier League champions.

On Tuesday, Costa was handed a three-game ban following his antics in the club's 2-0 victory over Arsenal, but Matic has since highlighted that the frontman's goals were pivotal to the Blues' domestic success last campaign.

"Everyone knows Diego is a great player," Matic told the club's official website.

"You know how many goals he scored last season. He is very important for us. I am happy to play with him."

Costa has scored 21 goals in 32 appearances for Chelsea since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2014.