‘Chelsea’s Costa must respect opponents’

LONDON — Chelsea striker Diego Costa needs to learn to show respect to opponents after the Spaniard goaded Everton players during their pulsating 6-3 English Premier League win, Toffees coach Roberto Martinez said on Sunday.

New signing Costa taunted Seamus Coleman after the Irish defender’s own goal put Chelsea 3-1 ahead at Goodison Park which prompted an angry reaction from a number of Everton players, in particular American goalkeeper Tim Howard.

“There are certain foreign players who come to the Premier League who need to understand the ethics and the culture,” Everton boss Martinez told reporters.

“The behaviour in the British game is unique. The last thing you want to see is disrespect from a player to another player and I am sure he will learn that very quickly.

“There is a real professionalism and respect in the league so you can understand why the players weren’t happy with that, in the same way as trying to buy free kicks with the way he plays.”

Costa has been impressive in firing Chelsea to the top of the table after scoring four goals in his first three games since signing from Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in the close season.

Mourinho’s version

Television viewers around the world were treated to a dazzling exhibition of attacking football when Chelsea beat Everton but visiting manager Jose Mourinho was hardly purring with joy.

Mourinho’s teams are traditionally rock solid at the back and he was disappointed Chelsea let in three goals.

“I know they are a good offensive side but to concede three goals is too much,” the outspoken Portuguese told Sky TV. “All of them I can clearly define the mistakes, the people involved and where we failed.

“We were killers in attack, especially on the counter-attack, so when you come to this stadium and get three points it is a reason to be happy. When you come here and score six goals, obviously my players did well.

“I want to be different in that we play better football, score more goals, but I don’t want to be different in the sense that we concede goals,” said Mourinho.

“To concede three goals and identify the mistakes we made is something I have to work at.”

New signing Diego Costa continued his excellent start to the season with two goals while Chelsea’s other efforts came from Branislav Ivanovic, an own goal from Seamus Coleman, Nemanja Matic and Ramires.

Chasing cards

Mourinho accused Everton of trying to goad Brazilian-born Spain striker Costa who has inspired Chelsea’s 100 per cent start to the season with four goals in the opening three league games.

“The thing I didn’t like in this game — apart from some of our defensive mistakes — was the way some Everton players were trying to create problems for him [Costa],” he said.

“I don’t think this is English football. There is a good tradition with Everton teams because everything is good, everything is positive, the manager, the quality of their football.

“But to be chasing cards to a player who once more had good behaviour and was just here to play football is disappointing. Today everyone was chasing him to get him in trouble.”

Everton boss Roberto Martinez said his team’s defending was simply not good enough.

“I don’t think many teams will score three against Chelsea this season,” said the Spaniard, “but the two boxes are going to dictate the scoreline and we were too soft with our defending.

“Every time the ball was around our 18-metre box we had a real sense of fear of it ending up in the back of the net.

“We have conceded 10 goals in three games and that’s not like us at all.”

Everton have two points from their opening three matches.