Manchester derby tunnel fight: Live reaction from Jose Mourinho as Pep Guardiola defends City's celebrations
Follow the latest as the two Manchester manager's face the media
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Your support makes all the difference.Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have spoken publicly for the first time since Sunday’s Manchester derby that ended in a tunnel fracas between players and staff of both City and United, ahead of this week’s Premier League fixtures. Follow the latest reaction here.
- Guardiola refused to be drawn on details of what happened in Old Trafford tunnel
- City boss defended his teams celebrations and confirms he encouraged them
- Mourinho would not comment on Guardiola's reasoning
- United manager did claim that fracas came through a 'diversity' of opinions
- Mourinho drenched in milk during tunnel row
- City’s assistant manager Mikel Arteta left with cut to his face
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Manchester derby tunnel scrap timeline
Full-time: Manchester City beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford
A surely seismic result in deciding where the Premier League title goes this season. City beat United 2-1 and extend their gap at the top to 11 points. They become the first team in English top-flight history to win 14 successive games in a season.
On the touchline, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola shake hands. The former quickly disappears down the tunnel; the latter keeps his post-match celebrations to a respectful minimum.
Manchester City begin the party
As the players make their way down the tunnel and into their respective dressing rooms, City begin the party.
Their players triumphantly file into the away dressing room, stopping briefly to pose for photographers. Ederson animatedly pumps his fist for the cameras. Kyle Walker meanwhile makes a 2-1 gesture.
From the dressing room, Leroy Sane tweets a picture of all of City’s players grouped together in celebration. Somebody throws a handful of tickertape into the air and the music begins pumping.
Jose Mourinho goes to complain
The United boss is heading from his own dressing room to his post-match media obligations when he hears the noise from City.
He walks into City’s dressing room to make his feelings known. He says that City should “show some more respect”.
The row between Mourinho and Ederson ensues
After making his feelings known, Mourinho becomes involved in a row with the City goalkeeper, Ederson.
The two become involved in a heated exchange and begin trading insults in Portuguese.
The dispute turns ugly
Players from both sides now become involved as things turn ugly.
Milk and plastic water bottles are thrown at Mourinho, as United’s players rush to support him. Witnesses say some players attempt to swing punches as Old Trafford security staff rush to break things up. It has been claimed Romelu Lukaku was involved in the chaos.
In the melee, City coach Mikel Arteta receives a cut to the head which leaves him bleeding.
After things cool down, police remain stationed outside both dressing rooms.
Press interviews begin
After the dispute, both managers conduct their post-match interviews as usual.
Mourinho concedes afterwards that City's advantage in the title race is now at a "significant distance".
Asked if it could be clawed back, he says: "I don't know. We are going to work and fight for it. That is the only thing I say."
He also complains about the late penalty decision, which saw United's Ander Herrera booked for diving after a challenge by Otamendi.
"It is a huge penalty in a crucial moment of the game," Mourinho says. He also bemoans his side's luck.
City boss Pep Guardiola has no time for Mourinho's complaints. "We won because we were better, in all departments," Guardiola says.
Jose on extra motivation after City's celebrations:
"No, the motivation is based on w e want to try to win all the time, and I repeat when you have a bad result you don't want to have two bad results. We lost against Chelsea and the next match we had to try extra to win. Chelsea lost this week and for sure they are going to have more to win in their next match. It's something everyone in the world has to give.
On tomorrow's game with Bournemouth:
"I told you that we go match after match, one match at a time. Try to get the maximum and try to get the points each time."
That's it from Mourinho. A slightly prickly yet relaxed display from the Manchester United boss, although we're informed that he went into more details during his embargoed briefing that will be available to read on The Independent at 22:30 tonight.
But what can we take from that?
- Mourinho wasn't impressed by City's celebrations, but didn't want to say it
- Mourinho wasn't happy about losing the derby, and did say it
- He refused to respond directly to Guardiola's comments
Here's what Pep Guardiola had to say about Sunday's big talking point:
And in response, here's what Manchester United's Jose Mourinho had to say:
That's all from today's Manchester press conferences, and much like Guardiola and Mourinho stressed, it's over to the FA to see what happens next. Both clubs must respond by tomorrow evening, although City have already submitted their evidence by what Guardiola had to say, and we can expect movement on this front on Thursda when the FA has had a chance to look over what exactly happened inside the Old Trafford tunnel.
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