Has Chelsea's Diego Costa become more hassle than he is worth to Jose Mourinho?

Feisty striker's antics such as the mid-match spat with his manager on Tuesday are tolerated when he is scoring for fun but now the goals have dried up.

How do you solve a problem like Diego Costa ?

It is a dilemma that is becoming a bigger headache for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho by the game.

And right now it is heading towards the point where the Spanish striker is becoming more hassle than he is worth.

The latest controversy in the 27-year-old’s Premier League career was his bust-up with Mourinho in the Blues’ 4-0 Champions League win at Maccabi Tel-Aviv .

Boss Mourinho blew his top at the striker when he made little attempt to get on the end of an Eden Hazard ball across the box just before half-time.

There was a similar incident in the victory over Norwich at the weekend , when Mourinho let his frustration at Costa’s failure to be in the right place at the right time show.

In Israel on Tuesday night, the Special One vented his fury at Costa who snapped back in an exchange of angry words and gestures.

In pictures — Maccabi Tel-Aviv 0-4 Chelsea:

While Mourinho’s behaviour is not unusual, it is rare to see such an open show of dissent from a player. And when two of the biggest names in English football are involved, it is all the more remarkable.

Oscar and John Terry played peacemakers as Costa stormed off and, despite unconfirmed suggestions he might not, the striker returned to the game after the break.

Costa sulked his way through the second half though, continuing to look like he was on the verge of another eruption but never looking like scoring.

And the Spaniard rounded off his night by storming down the tunnel — he was first off the pitch and blanked Mourinho, who was just yards away.

The Chelsea manager played down the row afterwards and, in reality, has little choice other than to try to keep Costa onside.

Loic Remy has failed to convince Mourinho he can be much more than a reliable back-up and the gamble on signing what remains of Radamel Falcao has backfired .

Borrowed time: On-loan Falcao is a shadow of his old self following a 2014 knee injury

Mourinho wants more firepower up front and has the likes of Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, Gonzalo Higuain of Napoli, West Brom starlet Saido Berahino and Boca Juniors’ Jonathan Calleri on his radar.

But until he can buy again in January, he will have to persist with a striker whose form has plummeted and who might have been dropped by now if more appetising choices were available.

Costa’s antics - the bans , bookings and flash-points - are tolerated when he is scoring, but move sharply into focus when he is not.

He has just four goals in 17 appearances this season compared to 10 at the same stage of his debut Chelsea campaign last year and he has a measly seven since his ban for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can in January.

In your face! Costa was suspended after this incident with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny

Heading for the exit? Costa squares up to Stoke's Geoff Cameron earlier this month

After 35 for Atletico Madrid to earn his £32million move to Chelsea, Costa scored another 20 in his first year to fire the Londoners to a title and Capital One Cup double.

It will take a turnaround almost as eye-catching as his Haifa clash with Mourinho for him to get near those figures again.

Tottenham v Chelsea: Gary Cahill urging Blues to keep up momentum for London derby

Gary Cahill hopes Chelsea can carry the momentum gained from claiming consecutive wins for the first time in two months into Sunday's London derby at Tottenham.

The reeling Premier League champions followed last Saturday's 1-0 win over Norwich with a 4-0 Champions League victory at Maccabi Tel Aviv which leaves their Group G fate in their own hands.

A truer test of their resurgence will come at White Hart Lane, though, where Chelsea lost 5-3 on New Year's Day.

"It's important we keep this momentum going," Cahill said.

"It was (important) for a number of reasons. First and foremost was for the Champions League and to make sure we put ourselves in a position to try to qualify top.

"But also to build the momentum off the back of the Norwich result and keep building these wins and try to gather wins to turn this around. It was important for a lot of reasons and very pleasing.

Would you like me to lapdance for you? Jose Mourinho made an appearance on Italian television show Chiambretti Night, shortly after his move to Italy. As England manager Fabio Capello once found out, part of the show involves a private dance from a scantily clad woman. Mourinho appeared to find it difficult to stay awake for the performance.

Chelsea are likely to be without John Terry against Spurs after the captain suffered an ankle injury on a pitch boss Jose Mourinho described as "dangerous".

Ramires also suffered an injury on the eve of the encounter, ruling the midfielder out of the match. The full extent of the injuries is likely to be determined by scans, while Mourinho will have work to do to inspire Diego Costa back to form after the pair's half-time bust-up in Haifa.

The absence of Terry may hinder the Blues, but they have 48 hours' additional preparation time than Spurs, returning from Israel on Wednesday as their rivals flew out to Azerbaijan for their Europa League clash with Qarabag, which takes place tonight.

Sunday's midday kick-off time has irked Mauricio Pochettino, whose side have lost three times in 18 games in all competitions this season. Chelsea sit 10 points and 10 places behind Spurs in the Premier League.

"We've got this week to prepare for the Tottenham game," Cahill added. "They're playing very well. I've no doubt it'll be an entertaining game and one where we're hoping to be on the end of the right result."

Chelsea's defeat of Norwich ended a three-match losing streak in the Premier League and the win over Maccabi leaves Chelsea certain of qualification for the Champions League last 16 if they beat Mourinho's former club Porto at Stamford Bridge on December 9.

Porto lost at home to Dynamo Kiev, who play Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final game and could also qualify, with the Israelis eliminated.

"We knew at half-time they (Kiev) were leading so it meant it was even more important for us," Cahill added. "We knew if we won, it would be in our hands at Stamford Bridge. So bring it on."

It was Cahill's goal which began a rout which materialised only late on as 10-man Maccabi made Chelsea work for victory.

Willian's free-kick and late headers from Oscar and Kurt Zouma completed the win.

Uefa have ordered Dynamo Kiev to play their next three European home games in an empty stadium as punishment for offences including racist behaviour by fans during the Champions League match against Chelsea last month.

Football's European anti-discrimination body Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) passed footage to Uefa of an apparent attack on four black fans at the match in Ukraine on October 20 which ended 0-0. Charges were brought against Dynamo for racist behaviour, crowd disturbances and blocked stairways.

The club have also been fined €100,000 and the order of closed doors for the third match will be suspended for three years.

A Uefa statement read: "Dynamo Kiev have been ordered to play their next three Uefa matches as host club behind closed doors."