Chelsea striker Diego Costa has claimed that he is unfairly targeted by referees in England.

The 27-year-old scored the winning goal for his side in their season opener against West Ham United on Monday night, but much of the post-match focus surrounded a challenge he made on opposition goalkeeper Adrian.

Costa was already on a yellow card for dissent - something he was unaware was being clamped down on this season - before escaping further punishment for a poor challenge on the Hammers shot-stopper.

"I can't ask for anything, the crowd here always loved me. It's a support which I always appreciate. It's important to get the three points, it's important to start winning," he told ESPN Brasil.

"I am aware of [the new yellow card rules] now. The second time I went to talk to him, he showed me [the yellow card]. I even found it a bit weird, but then I understood. I went to apologise at half time and that's it.

"But I'll be honest, I am targeted here, by the referees, the people... if I do something, it's totally different than if any other players do. It needs to be seen, that people targeted me. It's something I have to deal with and I ask God that these things don't disturb me and don't take the sequence of the games from me, which happens sometimes and gives me suspensions."

Adrian has since hit out at Costa on social media for the challenge.