Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has warned Diego Costa that he must control his aggression when he is provoked by opposition defenders.
The striker was involved in a scuffle with Juan Carlos Paredes during the goalless draw with Watford this evening and appeared to be wound up by the incident, which brought both players a yellow card.
Half time arrived shortly afterwards, allowing Costa to calm down, and Hiddink said after the match that he must get used to players aiming to elicit a reaction from him.
"It was clear and it front of our eyes, Costa was punched in the back and then he stumbled and brought his hands to his head. I was trying to protect my player because he was provoked," Hiddink is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"This league is physical, when you see our central defenders and our opponents central defenders. [Costa] likes to go physical but he must do within the rules. Sometimes players get physical and he has to get used to that."
The draw means that Hiddink remains unbeaten in his second spell as Chelsea boss.
Barney Corkhill
