Diego Simeone has said he could not dispute with the decision to show Diego Costa a second yellow card for celebrating a goal with the fans in Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Getafe but added that the striker had “transmitted fear” on his first La Liga game since returning to the club.
Simeone told reporters that Costa had got carried away after spending so long on the sidelines before his registration this month.
“After being six months out [Costa] scores a goal and wants to celebrate with the fans,” Simeone said. “The referee cannot think about the emotional part — he is there to follow the rules.
“If you go and celebrate with the fans, the yellow is deserved. We must accept that.”
“Diego brings us intensity, directness, more strength in attack, and above all he transmits fear,” Simeone said. “You can feel that and see that.”
“It was not an easy game, between two intense teams,” he said. “I imagine the referee was trying to do his job as well as possible. We try to collaborate as well as we can. Sometimes you can see things very clearly.”
“We expected a difficult game and managed it well,” he said. “We had chances in the first half, as well as the goal. The second half the same and although after Costa was sent off the game was different, we were solid in defence.”
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