Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez's blow-up with senior players has been played down.

The Guardian says while two or three senior players responded to Benitez's criticism before training yesterday by reminding him they had won the Champions League last season, the row ended in a positive debate about tactics.

John Terry, who was again left on the bench at City having started only one league game since 11 November due to knee problems, is believed to have spoken up for the players, with talk quickly turning to ideas for tactical tweaks or changes to training that might eke more from the side. The squad subsequently trained as normal.