Del Bosque defuses Morientes bust-up

Del Bosque ordered the striker to leave the pitchside for the final minutes of the Champions League encounter after the pair exchanged words in a heated verbal joust.

However, the Spanish international hit-man - who was an unused substitute for the fixture - refused to follow his manager's instruction leading to a minor confrontation.

The Real coach has though now moved to play down the controversial incident, stating that the player apologised to him personally the following morning.

"It's a fact that it happened, although I won't go into details," he said.

"The player apologised quickly and cordially, because he knew that he had not been in the right.

"In the four years I have been here, we have had the fortune of having very few incidents concerning the behaviour of the players, but from time to time situations occur and you shouldn't let them become serious.

"It is the consequence of having a family as big as ours.

"Not everyone is happy with their situation.

"It's true there was an incident with Morientes, but the next morning he apologised and that was it.

"That's what the manager is there for, the father of the family, to make sure things don't become out of hand, to maintain a good atmosphere and to preside over relations in the dressing room."

Del Bosque did not want to elaborate on any punishment the player had received, insisting that it would remain an internal matter.