Football-Sportclub: Diego Costa

Chelsea kick-start season with big win over Maccabi Tel Aviv

Diego Costa scored his first Champions League goal for Chelsea as the beleaguered Barclays Premier League champions claimed a much-needed fillip by thrashing Maccabi Tel Aviv at Stamford Bridge.

Willian, Oscar, with a penalty, Costa – on as a substitute after being omitted as one of six changes following the loss at Everton – and Cesc Fabregas scored as the Blues opened Group G with a 4-0 victory.

It was their their first home win of the season and second in all after a miserable start to the campaign which has sparked suggestions of a crisis.

Problems remain as Eden Hazard blazed a sixth-minute penalty over, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek was among those who impressed after recovering from a yellow card in the opening minute.

Mourinho was infuriated Predrag Rajkovic was not sent off for bringing down Willian for the first spot-kick, but luck was on the Blues' side as the Brazilian curled in a free-kick which evaded everyone.

He later went off with a hamstring problem, with Costa coming on, while goalkeeper Rajkovic might have conceded another penalty when Loftus-Cheek was brought down two minutes before the interval.

Then the visitors' two Tal Ben Haims failed to get a grip of Costa, who was felled by the former Chelsea defender, with Oscar converting from the spot.

Costa, who failed to net in Europe for the Blues last term, emphatically volleyed in a cross from Fabregas – a combination which worked wonders for Chelsea in the first half of last season but has stuttered since – before the Spain playmaker struck the fourth on the counter-attack.

Hazard burst down the centre, played it right for Loic Remy, whose shot was palmed by Rajkovic into the path of Fabregas to score.

Eran Zahavi missed a free header and Nosakhare Igiebor somehow failed to convert after 88 minutes as Chelsea kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.

Diego Costa will be marked man after Arsenal antics, warns George Graham

Former Arsenal boss George Graham has warned Diego Costa he faces being targeted by officials after his indiscretions in Chelsea's 2-0 win over the Gunners on Saturday.

Graham is adamant the Spain striker should have been sent off for bumping the chest of Laurent Koscielny and raising his hands to the Frenchman's face in the first half at Stamford Bridge before Gunners defender Gabriel saw red for retaliation.

Although Costa got away with only a yellow card, Graham says referees are now likely to seek to ensure he does not escape stricter punishment in future.

Graham 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.

"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."

But Graham also suggested Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger ought to be stricter with his own players, with Santi Cazorla's second-half dismissal taking the number of Gunners players dismissed in the Premier League to 79.

Graham added: "(Wenger) is not the most strict manager and he really needs to get hold of his own players because there's no way he (Gabriel) should have been sent off - it's his own stupidity that got him sent off and they've got to handle that.

"(But) Arsene does it his way and look at the record he has got in English football - he has been instrumental in getting a certain way of playing, the diet - he's brought all these things and trophies as well so how can you fault him?"

Chelsea to decide whether to appeal Diego Costa violent conduct charge

Chelsea must decide quickly whether to appeal against Diego Costa's violent conduct charge after the Football Association began disciplinary proceedings following an ill-tempered clash with Arsenal.

Costa has been cited for an incident involving Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny in his side's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues given until 6pm on Tuesday to respond.

The case for the defence became a little murkier on Monday when Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma was forced to explain comments in a television interview that the Spain striker "likes to cheat a lot".

Arsenal have already signalled their intent to appeal against Gabriel's sending-off in the match, but he has also been handed a separate charge of improper conduct.

Both London clubs face charges of failing to control their players, with a reply deadline of 6pm on Thursday.

The FA said in a statement: "Diego Costa has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.

"The Chelsea forward was involved in an incident with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny in the 43rd minute of the game. He has until 6pm (on Tuesday) to reply.

"Off-the-ball incidents which are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite referees."

Costa's behaviour was the subject of a post-match television interview with Zouma, during which the French defender made potentially inflammatory comments that both he and the club attempted to clarify on Monday.

The 20-year-old told beIN Sports: "Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponents out of his game, and that happened in the game. He's a real nice guy in the life and we are very proud to have him."

Zouma posted an explanation on Twitter saying: "Sorry for any confusion, English is not my first language & I did not mean to accuse anyone of cheating. Simply to say Diego is a player who puts pressure on his opponents & who I have huge respect for."

A Chelsea spokesman said it was unfair to take Zouma's words at face value.

"It's a bit harsh to take literally the words of a young player speaking in his second language immediately after a game," the Chelsea spokesman said. "Kurt is deeply upset that his words have been used to attack a team-mate and a friend."

Regarding Gabriel, the FA statement continued: "Arsenal defender Gabriel has been charged with improper conduct for his behaviour following his dismissal, whilst team-mate Santi Cazorla has been warned for his behaviour following his sending-off.

"Both clubs have been charged for failing to control their players under FA Rule E20."

Arsenal said they would appeal for both wrongful dismissal in relation to Gabriel and the length of his ban.

A statement read: "The club can confirm that it is appealing wrongful dismissal and the three-match ban given to Gabriel."