Chelsea striker Diego Costa insists there was no malicious intent behind the stamp on Emre Can which earned him a three-match ban from the English Football Association.
The 26-year-old was suspended for three games for violent conduct by the FA after an independent regulatory commission on Friday ruled he deliberately stamped on the ankle of the Liverpool midfielder in Tuesday's League Cup semi- final second leg.
Costa says he accepts and respects the punishment, but stresses he did not set out to hurt his opponent.
"As far as what happened on Tuesday, the main thing is when I get home, I can go to sleep knowing that I've not done anything wrong, because I never meant to do that and it was not on purpose," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"And you can clearly see that on the video. But it is a suspension. I have to accept that, I have to take it.
"Obviously I feel sad because I'm not going to be able to help the team, to play. But I have accept it and respect it.
"I'm not saying I'm an angel. I'm no angel. You can see that. But every time I will play the same way because that's the way I am.
"That's what I need to do in order to support my family. That's my bread and butter.
"Also, that's what I need to do for this club and for the fans of this club, for the supporters and for all the people involved in this club. On the pitch I will always be like that.
"That's my character and I will always compete and compete always. I'm a different guy off the pitch, as you can see, but on the pitch I will not change.
"And I want to say this again; you can look at the video and interpret it however you want, but I know when I get home I can sleep in peace because I know l didn't mean to do it."
Costa served the first game of his ban when he sat out the 1-1 draw with Manchester City, and now misses the trip to Aston Villa and the home game with Everton.
