Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink has played down the training pitch confrontation between Diego Costa and Oscar.
Tensions boiled over ahead of Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie with Scunthorpe after robust tackles were exchanged during training at the Blues' Cobham base.
Oscar put in an 'outrageous' tackle on Costa
Costa took exception to a challenge from Oscar and responded in kind in a competitive training session, with the swift intervention of team-mates required to help defuse the situation.
"It was a pity that our photographer yesterday had a day off because he could've shot beautiful pictures of two bulls bumping chests," said Hiddink, who succeeded Jose Mourinho last month.
• Oscar and Costa bust-up will not concern Hiddink
"(Costa) took a charge from behind and it was overdone. They stumbled over the ground, stood up and then chested a bit without any further threat of punching or whatever.
"It's a battle which happens when you're used to playing at high intensity.
"Oscar apologised in front of the group. They looked at each other and then they started laughing."
A source told Telegraph Sport: “Oscar’s challenge was outrageous, it was straight into the knee of Costa and could have done him some real damage. That sparked a brawl between them and the other players had to stop it.”
Hiddink has played down the incident, though, saying it was already the subject of dressing-room jokes immediately after the session.
Oscar also moved to quash rumours of a bust-up on social media.
Both players were born in Brazil but Costa chose to commit his international football to Spain, where he has played most of his professional career.
Chelsea have made the worst ever start to the defence of a Premier League title and are currently 14th in the Premier League table.
They have some respite this weekend as they play League One side Scunthorpe at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, hoping that the cup can provide fans with some cheer.
This incident will have garnered unwanted attention for Hiddink in a week that he would have preferred to go under the radar.
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