Oscar plays down training-ground fracas with ‘best friend’ Costa
Oscar has played down Thursday’s training-ground bust-up with Chelsea team-mate Diego Costa.
Tensions boiled over ahead of the FA Cup third-round tie with Scunthorpe after robust tackles were exchanged during training at the Blues’ Cobham base.
Costa took exception to a challenge from Oscar, who reportedly came off worst, and responded in kind in a competitive training session, with the swift intervention of team-mates required to help defuse the situation.
For those who are talking to me and @diegocosta struggle today in training he’s lying, he’s one of my best friends and never fight ?
— Oscar (@oscar8) January 7, 2016
The incident was laughed off afterwards and Oscar referenced it himself on Twitter, writing: “Those who are saying me and @diegocosta fought today in training are lying, he’s one of my best friends and we would never fight.”
Interim manager Guus Hiddink, who is believed to be satisfied that the pair have resolved their differences, will no doubt be asked about the kerfuffle during Friday’s press conference previewing the match with Scunthorpe on Sunday.
The Mirror claims ‘club sources’ said the pair were even seen joking as they headed towards the changing rooms together afterwards.
Radamel Falcao may also be a topic of conversation after flying back to parent club Monaco earlier this week.
The Colombian returned to the principality for checks on his thigh injury at Monaco’s training ground ahead of a potential return to the club.
Falcao was hoping to resurrect his ailing career at Chelsea this year but halfway through a season-long loan with the Premier League champions, he has scored just one goal.
The 29-year-old has not played for Chelsea since the end of October due to a thigh injury and is expected to be out for at least another week with the problem.
The striker returned to Chelsea’s Surrey base on Wednesday but he is understood to be considering an attempt to cut his loan short and return to Monaco.
With Costa and Loic Remy ahead of him in the pecking order, Falcao appears unlikely to get much playing time with the Blues for the rest of the season, which is of concern to the former Atletico Madrid forward.
If Chelsea cannot offer him regular first-team football for the rest of the campaign, it is understood the Colombian would prefer to return to Monaco.
It is understood Falcao has recently rejected approaches from Mexican and Turkish clubs.
Monaco signed the striker from Atletico in 2013 for £52million but he spent just one season in Ligue 1, suffering a major knee injury midway through, before embarking on a disappointing loan spell at Manchester United in which he scored just four goals in 29 appearances.
Prior to his time in England, Falcao was regarded as one of the best strikers in the world following prolific spells at Atletico, Porto and River Plate.