Fernandinho has defended his elbow on Chelsea striker Diego Costa in the first half of Sunday’s 3-0 victory over the London club, a game in which the Brazilian midfielder scored a stunning goal to round off the victory, although some argued he shouldn’t even have been on the pitch to score it.
The Blues managed to finish the game with 11 men, a feat they didn’t manage in last year’s game against Chelsea at Eastlands, when Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for a second yellow, and Frank Lampard had to rescue a point against his former side. The 11 men on the pitch on Sunday covered themselves in glory as they romped to a solid victory over last season’s champions.
Meanwhile, Fernandinho has had to endure criticism for his elbow on Diego Costa, and defended himself – as quoted in The Guardian – by saying: “It was an accident and the nature of the game. It happens in football.”
“He is always trying to offend the opposition, but I keep calm and keep playing. I just didn’t want to fight or have any confrontation and just to play for my team.”
The 30-year-old’s sublime strike from outside the box was his first goal of the season, and he’ll be hoping to build on the 8 he’s scored in the last two seasons combined, some of which have also been brilliant goals.
