Diego Costa has once again claimed he is traded unfairly by Premier League officials.

The Chelsea striker was lucky to escape being sent off in Monday night's league opener against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge when he cut down goalkeeper Adrian in the second half.

Costa had already been booked by referee Anthony Taylor for dissent and was very fortunate not to have been given his marching orders before scoring the winning goal late in the contest, which ended 2-1 to the Blues.

The 27-year-old opened up about his early booking, suggesting that he is the victim of unfair treatment, while failing to comment on the poor challenge on Hammers gloveman Adrian.

"I am aware of it 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," he told ESPN Brazil.

"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."