Slaven Bilic and his West Ham United players were left bemoaning the reluctance of the referee to dismiss Diego Costa for two bookable offences as the Spain forward scored the late goal that ensured Antonio Conte’s tenure as Chelsea manager began with a morale-boosting win.
Anthony Taylor opted not to show Costa a yellow card for a late challenge on Adrián midway through the second half, having already cautioned the Chelsea forward for dissent. Costa’s left foot sank into the inside of the goalkeeper’s right calf to leave him sprawled on the turf and West Ham’s players were incensed no further action was taken. “A couple of decisions went against us,” said Mark Noble. “It’s a yellow card isn’t it? I’ve seen the tackle and he’s wiped his ankle out completely.”
Bilic, who lost his record signing André Ayew to a thigh injury, was reluctant to criticise the referee’s decision but suggested the challenge would normally have merited a caution. “Look, it’s the first game of the season and we are already talking about those kind of decisions,” he said. “From our point of view we are not happy with that. I saw the tackle once again … I don’t think it was reckless. It was not a deliberate one. But it was late. Nine times out of 10, a challenge on a goalkeeper like this looks like a booking. Unfortunately this was the 10th time. But, really, I’m only disappointed with the way the goals were conceded.
“Chelsea deserved it. We were so close and thought that was it at 1-1 late on. But, to be honest, apart from the first 15 minutes, and the time we equalised, they were better than us. We didn’t create many chances, we gave them a penalty. The second goal we had the ball totally in control, too, at our end of the park. They were much more aggressive, winning balls and second balls, and their front four were on fire. I’m not happy with the way we played. We can do much better.”
Conte was encouraged by his team’s energetic performance, particularly once they had forced themselves ahead early in the second half courtesy of Eden Hazard’s penalty, and praised the contributions of the Belgian, the debutant N’Golo Kanté and Costa. “You know Diego, he’s a passionate man,” he said. “He puts passion in everything he does: if he shoots, if he runs, for everything. But, in this situation [with the challenge on Adrián], I must be honest, I think the referee took the right decision. Before the contact he stopped.”
The Italian fielded 10 of the 11 players who started last season’s opening fixture against Swansea City under José Mourinho, with Kanté preferred to Cesc Fàbregas in midfield. The Spaniard has been the subject of interest from Juventus. “But Cesc is a Chelsea player,” added Conte. “I’m happy about him, with his attitude in training. You must know that, when you are a great team like Chelsea, it can happen. That you can find yourself out of the team. I have to take decisions for each game to choose a starting XI. In Fàbregas’s situation, he wasn’t in the starting XI but that could happen to any of the players.
“It’s important to see always the right attitude because we must fight this season. We have to stay together in every situation so the shape can improve and I can change all the situation. I took this decision but, next game, we don’t know. I can change it or not. It’s important, I repeat, that the team comes before all. But I don’t see any problem with him.”