Chelsea caretaker boss Guus Hiddink believes Diego Costa is a much better player when he does not worry about the opposition.

The Spanish striker was once again the subject of provocation in the form of strong challenges from Crystal Palace pair Scott Dann and Damien Delaney in the Blues' 3-0 win at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

It is a tactic which most sides have employed in a bid to put Costa off his game but on this occasion it did not work as the former Atletico Madrid star provided an assist and scored a goal in a performance which pleased Hiddink.

"He has to focus himself on what he is good at," the Dutchman told Sky Sports.

"When he is focusing himself, the rest is not important.

"He must not waste energy on wrong actions that loses his quality. We have small talks, not big conversations, about where we want him to be."