Only complete screwballs think Costa is innocent

I have always suspected Diego Costa was a bit of a nutter. Now, there’s no doubt.

The proof arrived when he contested his violent conduct charge for stamping on Liverpool’s Emre Can.

Rightly, Costa’s protests were thrown out. His three-game ban is a just punishment.

But for me, only a complete screwball could possibly claim the Chelsea striker is innocent.

I wouldn’t normally put Jose Mourinho in that bracket but I couldn’t understand him defending his player over this.

We’ve all seen the incident countless times, from countless different angles, at countless speeds.

Emre Can is on the ground, Costa on his feet. The Liverpool man flicks the ball away as Costa makes a move towards it.

Then, with zero justification, Costa slams his right boot down on the grounded Liverpool man’s ankle. No second thoughts, no attempt to avoid him and, crucially, no remorse.

With the evidence there for all to see, I don’t understand how he can possibly claim he didn’t mean it. It’s as clear as day and it’s not as if he doesn’t have previous.

From the very moment Costa emerged as a striker to be reckoned with, he has lived on the very edge of what is acceptable on the field of play and what is not.

Go back to 2012, and he was in hot water for twice throwing the contents of his nose yes, really at Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos during a fiery Madrid derby.

Unbelievably, he got away with that, which seems to be something he is very good at. He’s forever throwing his head, his arms, or whatever will do the most damage in the least obvious way at defenders and usually it isn’t spotted.

That’s why it didn’t surprise me to see him stamp on ANOTHER Liverpool player the unfortunate Martin Skrtel after escaping punishment for his assault on Emre Can.

After all, THAT is what Diego Costa is all about.

He’s a terrifying physical presence, who believes he isn’t doing his job properly if he isn’t giving defenders nightmares.

He’s also a very good player, indeed, which is just as well.

But if he doesn’t curtail his combative urges, I worry he’ll end up seriously hurting someone.