Diego Costa's anger issues on the pitch isn't something new, says Chelsea striker's brother

Habit: Diego Costa's brother admits the striker will find it hard to change his passionate style of play
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj28 September 2015

Diego Costa's older brother has revealed that the Chelsea striker has always lost his temper while playing football because the Spain international never wants to be beaten on the pitch.

Costa is currently serving a three-match domestic ban for violent conduct, which the FA handed out retrospectively following the Chelsea star's actions during the Blues' controversial 2-0 Premier League win over London rivals Arsenal earlier this month.

Minutes before half-time at Stamford Bridge, Costa was seen grabbing Laurent Koscielny's face as the two competed for a cross before he chested him down to the pitch when then confronted by the Gunners defender.

The incident went unnoticed by referee Mike Dean but, moments later, Costa became embroiled in a war of words with Gabriel Paulista which resulted in both players receiving cautions - before the Arsenal centre-back was subsequently sent off for flicking his heel at the Chelsea striker.

Gabriel's red card was later rescinded by the FA ​on appeal while Costa was handed a three-game ban by an independent regulatory commission, and the striker's older brother Jair Costa has now admitted the Chelsea man has always had issues controlling his temper during games.

Chelsea in training

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"This isn't something new. It's the same old story," Jair told The Sun on Sunday.

"It's hard for Diego to change a habit of a lifetime. He always loses his temper easily and ends up in fights when he plays football.

"As brothers we've always been close but always fought over football because we were so passionate about trying to be better than the other.

Banned: Diego Costa (right) was handed a retrospective suspension for an incident in Chelsea's win over Arsenal
David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

"He never wants to be beaten and, as a child, if his team lost or he disagreed with a foul, he would fly into a rage ending up in scraps with his opponent."

He added: "When he played for fun with us he was a real tyrant, especially if he was on the losing side. If his team was beaten he’d insist on playing the game again and again until he won.

"And on the replays he’d run around like a madman, trying even harder than before, determined to win."

Costa's ban does not apply to European competitions, with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho expected to start the striker up front in the club's Champions League Group G clash with Porto on Tuesday night.

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