Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has leapt to the defence of his leading scorer Diego Costa, after the spanish striker picked up his seventh yellow card of the season in Saturday's 2-0 win against Hull.
Costa has already served a suspension this season and is heading towards a second after he was booked for diving, but Mourinho suggests many of his cautions have not been justified.
"I can't believe it," said Mourinho when he was asked to reflect on the latest yellow card handed out to Costa by referee Keith Foy. "I remember two [cautions] that are understandable and fair. One was against Newcastle because he complained with the referee with arms in the air in body language that was not accepted normally by the referees and [Martin] Atkinson gave him the yellow card.
"The other one in Liverpool, when there was a really aggressive duel with [Martin] Skrtel -- you know, fighting in a yellow card way.
"All the others, the first one at Burnley is a penalty and a red card for the keeper and he gets a yellow card. Other times, it is not a simulation and they give him a yellow card. Other times he touches one guy and it is a yellow card."
Mourinho suggested Costa's reputation for being something of a fiery character is working against him in English football, saying referees are not showing him enough leniency.
"Everything he does is a yellow card, so he does nothing for a red card, he does nothing, really," added Mourinho, suggesting the striker may get sent off for two minor offences.
"Mr. Foy [referee] you have to tell him. 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.
"I think when Costa was at Atletico Madrid he created a certain image, and people don't believe he can change.
"People don't believe in the way that we teach him what England is, the mentality, what people accept, what people don't accept, what is a red card. People don't understand that he is intelligent enough to understand it. And to change - because he has changed."