Chelsea defend 'offended' Sarri's actions

Sarri refused to talk to the media after Chelsea's home draw with the Clarets, incensed at being sent off and claiming he was abused by the visitor's coaching team.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and Burnley goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer had to be separated by the officials at the final whistle, as a gripping encounter ended in ugly touchline scenes at Stamford Bridge.

David Luiz and Ashley Westwood then clashed as the teams left the field, and that after Gonzalo Higuain had thrown a bottle into the dugout in a petulant response to being replaced late on.

To make the night worse for Chelsea, teenage England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi later confirmed on social media that he will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured achilles.

Asked if Chelsea will contact the FA over Sarri's frustrations, Zola said: "I think there will be a follow (up) on that. Maurizio felt very unhappy.

"We understand it's a football game. You say words because of the adrenaline, but he wasn't particularly happy.

"If Maurizio said that, probably it's something that could have been avoided."

Explaining why he attended the press conference and not Sarri, Zola continued: "The reason is he's very frustrated, so he'd prefer not to come over here.

"He's been sent off. I think he's been offended as well, so he didn't feel it was the right thing to do, to speak to you.

"I know you wanted him, so I'm sorry. But you can understand: he's frustrated at the game, frustrated at being sent off, and the other thing. He'd prefer not to come in."

Zola expects N'Golo Kante to recover quickly from a "contusion" to his ribs.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche played down the ugly touchline fracas at fulltime.

"I think it was handbags, manbags, bumbags; I'm not sure what you're supposed to call it these days," he said.

Dyche insisted Burnley played no role in Sarri's red card, adding: "It wasn't anything to do with us why he got sent off."

Australian Associated Press