Chelsea’s Diego Costa will be targeted by officials, those are the thoughts of former Arsenal manager, George Graham.
According to the Independent, Graham believes his actions towards both Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel on Saturday will influence the way officials see Costa.
The Brazilian-born striker was among the critics on Saturday despite having a very impressive game. Overshadowed by his confrontation with the Arsenal defenders, Costa was lucky to avoid a red card.
After tussling with Koscielny, Gabriel took matters into his own hands, and feet for that matter, which resulted in the defender seeing a red.
Graham, who managed Arsenal from 1986 through till 1995 and also played for Chelsea from 1964-66 told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek:
I think (Costa) is going to be targeted man now by the officials and probably rightly so.
(Didier) Drogba was the main (Chelsea) man for nearly 10 years and he was very, very physical but he didn’t take to the extremes that Costa has taken it to.
Whilst fans and Mourinho alike see it as a good part of the strikers’ game, Graham didn’t agree. He went on to say:
Although you’ve got to keep that physical intensity, once you step over the mark he’s got to be dealt with by officials, it’s as simple as that – and I think he will be.
Do you agree? Could this result in Diego being unfairly treated in the future?
