Questions remain over their relationship, though, especially after the Spain striker tossed his substitutes’ bib over his shoulder in the direction of his manager in the final moments at White Hart Lane.

“If he wants to hurt me, it’s not with a bib,” Mourinho said. “I have a good relationship with him, no problems.”

Mourinho said prior to the game that he left out Costa due to a lack confidence having scored just four goals this season, but the pair argued at half-time of Tuesday’s Champions League clash in Israel and the manager criticised the striker’s reading of the game on Friday.

Reports suggest that Chelsea are looking for a new striker in January – with Tottenham’s Harry Kane among those linked – and the speculation is likely to heighten after Costa’s omission.

“I think Diego is very privileged because he was the last one to be (put) on the bench,” Mourinho added.

“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.”

Mourinho was happy with a much-improved display and had a message for his team.

“The message to every one of my players – not (just) Diego, to every one of my players – is when we play as a team and when, especially, we defend as a team, the team is much better,” the Chelsea manager said.

“For us the result is not what we want, but the performance is good.

“Playing the way we played, I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next 10 matches we don’t lose one.

“I think we can look to December with enthusiasm. I’m convinced at the end of December we’ll be in a different position to where we are now and we will shorten clearly the distance to the top teams.”

Mourinho did not think of turning to Costa in search of a goal.

“I was looking for the winner, but without him,” said Mourinho, who sent on Kenedy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the dying moments of the match.

“I was tempted not to touch the team because the team was dangerous. Why change if we think we cannot improve?”

Mourinho expects to have a fully-fit squad, including Terry and long-term injury victim Thibaut Courtois, for next Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth.

Tottenham extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches, with their only Premier League defeat this term coming on the opening day at Manchester United.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino was asked if he was happy with a draw in light of Thursday’s Europa League clash in Azerbaijan.

“No, not really happy,” Pochettino said. “We created enough chances to score. We shot four times on target, and three or four more off target.

“They had one shot on target, in the second half for Hazard. We deserved more in a very difficult game.”

Ryan Mason went off with an ankle or Achilles problem and will be assessed.