BLUES BRAWL

Costa and Oscar square up in training after bad tackles

CHELSEA players Diego Costa and Oscar were involved in an angry training-ground bust-up yesterday morning.

The pair had to be restrained after squaring up to each other following two hefty tackles during an intense training session.

Verbals were exchanged between the pair although Chelsea last night insisted that no punches were thrown.

Oscar is understood to have rattled Costa with a heavy tackle before the striker responded with a hard-hitting tackle of his own.

The second clash is understood to have sparked the heated confrontation between the pair, who had to be pulled apart by team-mates.

The clash is said to have defused quickly and last night Oscar (right) said in a statement: ‘I would like to clarify that Diego and I are very good friends. We spend a lot of time together on and off the pitch, our families are friends. We have no issues. We are both extremely competitive and sometimes that gets blown out of proportion by people that don’t know us.’ Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink is said to be relaxed about the incident at the club’s Cobham HQ.

Nevertheless, the incident will come as an unwanted headache in a troubled season for the club ahead of their FA Cup tie against Scunthorpe on Sunday.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas was at the centre of a similar incident last month, on Jose Mourinho’s penultimate day in charge.

Fabregas reacted angrily after youngster Charly Musonda Jr flicked the ball over his head before nutmegging him in training. Fabregas then unleashed a heavy challenge on the 19-yearold that sparked a melee among the players.