Chelsea’s Cahill Defends Diego Costa Style

Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill has defended team-mate Diego Costa’s physical approach to the game.
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The striker, 26, contests a Football Association violent conduct charge for an alleged stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can in their League Cup semi-final tie.
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Cahill told the BBC’s Football Focus: “It’s his character. It’s the way he plays. He’s a handful for a defender.
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“One of his attributes, as well as his skills and scoring fantastic goals, is that he puts his foot in.”
Cahill added: “He makes it difficult and uncomfortable for defenders.
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“Would you change him? Probably not, and I don’t think you should. Certainly as a team-mate, he’s somebody you want in your team.
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“It’s a strength he has. You have seen how good he is with his feet and how skilful he is for a big guy but the way he has adapted to the Premier League – he is a physical guy.”
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Costa has scored 17 Premier League goals for leaders Chelsea since signing from Atletico Madrid, for a fee understood to be £32m, in July.
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The striker has been booked eight times since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, and has also picked up two yellow cards this season playing for Spain.
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, whose side was beaten in the second leg of the semi-final at Stamford Bridge to lose the tie on aggregate, admitted he had previously wanted to sign the Brazil-born player.
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Rodgers said: “We were interested in him because he was an outstanding player.
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“You will find all players have that edge, especially the best ones. But he’s a wonderful player and that’s all I need to say.”
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He contests the FA charge which could see him given a three-match ban.