‘I’ve always been against technology stuff but it cost us past year too. But should Costa still have been on the field?
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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. “In this situation, I think the referee took the right decision”.
Heading to Vicarage Road this weekend will provide another test for a rebuilding Chelsea looking for consecutive wins – something it completed only once last season. They were in control from the first minute.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa has a reputation for antagonizing opposing players, and he regularly toes the line between what is and isn’t accepted on the football pitch.
Completing 54 of his 57 attempted passes – an nearly 95% success rate – and ending the game as the only Chelsea player to win the ball more often than he lost it, Kante was certainly back to his tireless and industrious best.
Antonio lost the ball to Cesar Azpilicueta and brought him down in the penalty area.
West Ham goalkeeper Adrian had done a fine job in the first half of keeping the match scoreless, until his right-back Michail Antonio gave the hosts an opportunity to strike first. And the Frenchman changed the dynamic of the game.
West Ham looked to have pulled off a smash-and-grab with 13 minutes remaining when Chelsea failed to clear a corner and Wales global Collins lashed a left-foot half-volley past Thibaut Courtois. But the game was not over yet.
He was risky throughout the first half and found the first goal of the match on a thunderous penalty kick high above the reach of West Ham goalkeeper Adrian.
Hazard toiled for 27 Premier League matches without a goal last season before breaking that drought with a brace at Bournemouth in April.
Antonio Conte would have been delighted by his side’s commitment and fight.
And, to rub salt into West Ham’s wounds, Costa popped up in the 89th minute to score the victor and deny Slaven Bilic’s side a point. Chelsea now have a trip to Watford to prepare for.
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Going on the basis of the performance against West Ham, Conte isn’t leading revolution at Stamford Bridge, but evolution.
