Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma said that Blues striker Diego Costa likes to cheat in a match, but he later insisted that his statement was not an attack against their superstar.

Costa made headlines on Saturday during their 2-0 win against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The star striker had a heated altercation with Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista.

Gabriel rushed into the scene and came into Koscielny's defense but his action earned him and Costa a yellow card. Gabriel was then booked again and was sent off for flicking a boot at Costa, who was eventually allowed to finish the match despite being involved in altercation with two different opponents.

Following the match, Zouma said that they were not surprised when Koscielny and Gabriel lost their cool, saying that his teammate likes to cheat to earn the ire of their opponents.

"We're not surprised because we know Diego," Zouma told reporters via ESPN FC. "Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponent out of his game. That happened in the game but he's a really nice guy. We're proud to have him, like the other players, and we're happy to win this game today."

Zouma's statement drew mixed reactions from fans because some viewed it as an attack against Costa. However, the 20-year-old defender quickly clarified that he did not mean to label his teammate as a cheater.

"Sorry for any confusion, English is not my first language & I did not mean to accuse anyone of cheating," Zouma posted on Twitter. "Simply to say ... Diego is a player who puts pressure on his opponents & who I have huge respect for."

A Chelsea spokesman also came into Zouma's defense. "It's a bit harsh to take literally the words of a young player speaking in his second language immediately after a game. Kurt is deeply upset that his words have been used to attack a teammate and a friend," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Football Association announced that Costa will be charged with violent conduct despite escaping stiffer sanctions during the match against Arsenal.

"Diego Costa has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video," the FA said in a statement posted on their official website.

According to the press release, Costa has until Tuesday to explain his side. Gabriel was also charged with improper conduct, while Santi Cazorla received a warning for his behavior during the incident. Chelsea and Arsenal were also asked to explain for failing to control their respective players.