Chelsea will be without Spain striker Diego Costa and Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard for the home derby with West Ham United on 19 March, because of suspension and injury respectively.

Costa is banned after being sent off in last weekend's FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Everton. He appeared to bite Gareth Barry, although he and Barry denied it, but they were both dismissed in the match. Hiddink said Costa was unhappy at not being able to play, but it was wrong to call him an idiot for being suspended.

"That's too strong, that's too strong. If you know the definition of an idiot that's different than him characterising as such," the Chelsea boss said.

"He needs to play how we like, but not going over [the edge]. He has to play as he's doing, with a lot of 'blood'. We know that, we know that, we have to accept that. We don't have to accept that he [loses] control and he knows," he added.

Chelsea are out of the Champions League and languishing in 10th place in the Premier League. Spanish fans are none too impressed with Costa's form and behaviour either, with boss Vicente Del Bosque dropping him for fitness issues and fans saying they find his behaviour unacceptable.

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