'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has criticized Premier League referees after his side’s 2-0 win over Hull City this weekend. The Portuguese manager feels that his star striker Diego Costa has been wrongly targeted and penalized with seven yellow cards so far this season.
Chris Foy makes fun of Mourinho
The Blues beat 10-man Hull City to maintain their dominance in the Premier League but match referee Chris Foy booked Costa for diving when it actually looked like the Chelsea striker had been fouled. The Spain international has now seven yellow cards already in this season, out of which atleast five of them were falsely given as claimed by Mourinho.
The Daily Star reported that after the game, Mourinho confronted Foy while the Portuguese manager was talking to the media, which resulted into a moment of humour in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge.
When Mourinho was asked if it annoyed him for the constant bookings on Costa, he gestured Foy and his assistants passing through and said:
"You have to ask Mr. Foy - look at him! Mr. Foy! Mr. Foy! Tell the guys please! Come and tell them!
"Diego Costa is crying because you gave him a yellow card! He is crying in the dressing room! And these guys are asking me why."
Chris Foy gave no sympathy to the Special One and pulled out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Mourinho, which amused the crowd gathered and said: "Handkerchief?”
Costa, now a clean and nice guy
Diego Costa has had a reputation of being a hothead in his playing days in Spain before leaving Atletico Madrid for Chelsea last summer. Mourinho felt that his striker didn’t deserve to be booked for simulation because of his La Liga impression.
"When he was at Atletico he created a certain image, and people don't believe he can change.” He said.
"People don't understand he is intelligent enough to understand it. And to change - because he changed. But seven yellow cards. It looks like everybody comes for him ready.
Costa has had a reputation for rough play and being aggressive but he came to England on on the back of his prolific goalscoring.
"In England normally referees are very good. And more than the referees, the football fans - they are very fair in that analysis.
"They don't like the elbows, the spit, and these kind of things are not acceptable. And he learned. He had lessons on it. When I say lessons, I say talks.” He added.
"Not just me or my staff, also people like Cesc Fabregas, Cesar Azpilicueta - the ones that speak Spanish well with him and they have his ear. The guy, since day one for me, is doing very, very well.
"The guy is clean! He's a nice guy. He is behaving well. Today he made a fall with some guy, he went there to apologise, and he gave him his hand to bring him up. He is doing everything right!" The 51-year-old former Real Madrid manager explained.
Chelsea team-mate Branislav Ivanovic also came into Costa's defence, and claimed: "He's very nice and a very funny guy. He likes to make jokes. His style is important for him, and good for us."
Diego Costa scored his 12th goal of the season when he added to the Hazard opener against Hull City.
