PSG boss Luis Enrique has opened up after slapping Chelsea striker Joao Pedro following Sunday night's Club World Cup final.
Pedro was on target for the Blues as they secured a 3-0 victory, with Cole Palmer scoring twice.
After the game, however, tempers boiled over with Palmer and Pedro caught up in the thick of things.
In shocking scenes, PSG boss Enrique then lashed out at Pedro - forcing the former Brighton striker to fall to the floor.
PSG boss Luis Enrique has opened up after slapping Chelsea striker Joao Pedro following Sunday night's Club World Cup final
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PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was also caught up in the drama, with the Italian visibly angry after conceding three times.
Enrique has now insisted he was attempting to defuse the situation and expressed a belief that the incident was 'totally avoidable'.
“At the end of the game there is a situation that I believe is totally avoidable by everyone," he said.
“My goal and intention, as always, is to try to separate the players so that there are no more problems. Avoidable situation.
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“There is a lot of tension, a lot, a lot of pressure and from there, there is a series of pushes by many people that I think we should all avoid and that should not happen again.
“But I repeat, my intention as always, to avoid any situation that goes further.”
Tempers also boiled over before the final whistle had sounded.
Palmer angered Fabian Ruiz, with the PSG midfielder shoving the Chelsea star in anger as a response.
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PSG boss Luis Enrique has insisted he was trying to 'defuse' the situation following his side's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final
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Meanwhile, Palmer lavished praise on Blues boss Enzo Maresca after their emphatic victory in America.
Maresca has had his critics at times this season but ends his maiden year at Stamford Bridge with two trophies to his name.
Palmer said: "Obviously it's a great feeling. Even better because obviously everyone doubted us before the game.
"But to go out there and put a fight on like we did against a great team, it's good.
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"The gaffer put a great game plan out. He knew where the space was going to be. I just had to repay him and score some goals.
"He's building something special, something important. I feel like we are going in the right direction."
Maresca praised Palmer, while also hailing Chelsea players for getting the job done.
"Today we found a position for him where there was space to attack," he stated.
Chelsea players celebrate their Club World Cup win on Sunday night
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"I'm happy for Cole but the effort from all the players has been fantastic.
"They deserve it. It's a good moment.
"For me, we won the game in the first 10 minutes. In the first 10 minutes we set the tempo for the way we want to play. We were very good.
"Unfortunately with the weather conditions it is not easy to do for 90 minutes, but I think we won the game in the first 10 minutes."