Diego Godin believes Atletico Madrid teammate Diego Costa deserves protecting by match officials just as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta do.
The Atleti striker drew criticism yesterday for apparent simulation and also for dropping to the ground after a confrontation with an opponent during his team’s 1-0 win at Sevilla on Sunday.
For his teammate, though, Costa deserves protection.
“It’s difficult to play when a whole crowd goes for you as it happened to him,” commented Godin after yesterday’s game.
“I think the referee could have stopped the game at some point. He proved that his football is great.
“He’s a player you have to protect. At a level of protection like Messi, Ronaldo or Iniesta…
“He has his own way of playing and he would not be the player he is today if he did not play well.
“He is a player that this season is giving us much joy and he has reached the Brazilian national team.”
