Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says player power is becoming a problem for football

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino feels there is "a problem" with player power in football.

Spurs face Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 3.30pm, and will be up against a side without Diego Costa, who has failed to return to the club in a bid to force through a move to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea want him back from Brazil but, in his latest interview, Costa claims he has faced a "lack of respect".

At Friday's pre-match news conference Antonio Conte burst into laughter when he was asked about the Spain international.

However, Pochettino feels the growth of player power is no laughing matter, and that no individual should ever be more important than the club.

"In ­general I think there is a ­problem," he said. "The most important [thing] is always the club, and then, of course, our fans. Then come the players, the manager, and the coaching staff.

Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham can not afford to use playing at Wembley as an excuse this season Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham can not afford to use playing at Wembley as an excuse this season

"It's very dangerous for every club if the players feel that they are more important than the club and the fans and are on a superior level.

"But I don't feel that. Maybe I am lucky because in Espanyol, in Southampton, or here in Tottenham, I think the balance is very good.

"At the end of the day you need to have good players. But the level of the players, the attitude, how they are, how they behave, is so important."

Watch Chelsea's game with Tottenham from 3.30pm on the Sky Sports Premier League channel this Sunday