Chelsea’s striker Diego Costa has spoken of the incident involving himself and Emre Can that resulted in a three-game ban for the Spaniard. Costa revealed that he did not mean to stamp Can and it was something that happened by mistake.
Costa had an eventful game where he was involved in spats with Emre Can, Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard. The 26-year old told the Daily Telegraph, “The main thing is when I get home I can go to sleep knowing that I’ve not done anything wrong. I never meant to do that and it was not on purpose.”
“It is a suspension. I have to accept that, I have to take it. Obviously I feel sad because I’m not going to be able to help the team to play.”
Costa has come under fire for his aggression on the pitch and some even feel that he has crossed the line on more than one occasion. However, the former Atletico man feels that his style is something that he cannot change as he has carried the aggression that embodied his previous manager Diego Simeone this season. Costa has picked up seven yellow cards in the Premier League owing to his style and he said that he will not change it, “I’m not saying I’m an angel. I’m no angel. You can see that. But every time I play I will play the same way because that’s the way I am. That’s what I need to do in order to support my family. That’s my bread and butter.
“Also, that’s what I need to do for this club and for the fans of this club, for the supporters and for all the people involved in this club.”
“I’m a different guy off the pitch, as you can see, but on the pitch I will not change,” added Costa.
Costa has been brilliant form this season for Chelsea after joining from Atletico Madrid for a fee of a 38m in the summer. The Spanish international has scored 17 goals in 19 Premier League appearances for Chelsea and has led them from the front. During his absence in the Premier League, Chelsea have won twice and drawn twice. Costa will miss the upcoming games against Aston Villa and Everton as he’ll serve the remainder of his suspension that has already started. He did not feature in the game against title rivals Manchester City yesterday as his side drew to maintain the five-point lead at the top.