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Cape Town - Chelsea striker Diego Costa claims he is being "targeted" by Premier League referees and admits he is "aware" of the new dissent law.
The Blues star scored a late winner in their 2-1 victory over West Ham to give Antonio Conte three points in his first match in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Despite knowing the rules, Costa was booked for dissent in the first half and was perhaps lucky to stay on the field after his late challenge on Hammers keeper Adrian went unpunished.
The Brazilian was pleased with the result against Slaven Bilic's side but claims he is a marked man.
“I can’t ask for anything, the crowd here always loved me. It’s a support which I always appreciate. It’s important to get the three points, it’s important to start winning," Costa told ESPN Brasil.
“I am aware of [the new dissent law] now. The second time I went to talk to him, he showed me [the yellow card]. I even found it a bit weird, but then I understood. I went to apologise at half-time and that’s it.
“But I’ll be honest, I am targeted here, by the referees, the people… if I do something, it’s totally different than if any other players do. It needs to be seen, that people targeted me.
“It’s something I have to deal with and I ask God that these things don’t disturb me and don’t take the sequence of the games from me, which happens sometimes and gives me suspensions.”
