City’s celebrations were not over the top, insists Guardiola

PEP Guardiola has said Manchester City’s celebrations after Sunday’s derby victory at Old Trafford were not excessive.

Staff and players from Manchester United are understood to have taken exception to the way City enjoyed their 2-1 success, sparking a fracas in the corridor outside the dressing rooms.

There have been reports that United boss Jose Mourinho became involved in an altercation with City goalkeeper Ederson and that milk and water were thrown. City coach Mikel Arte- ta is also understood to have suffered a cut to the head.

Guardiola was unwilling to comment on the details of the alleged melee but was adamant his players were only celebrating inside their dressing room and were within their rights to do so.

He said: “We won a derby against Manchester United, at the moment the biggest rival. We have to win it.

“So people expect we are not going to celebrate? No. We celebrate. When United win a derby they celebrate, when Arsenal win against United they celebrate. When United or Arsenal win the FA Cup they celebrate. But where? Inside the locker room. That’s what we do and we did.”

City’s players are understood to have been celebrating raucously and playing loud music but Guardiola insists that is nothing out of the ordinary.

It is claimed the trouble started as Mourinho walked past the City dressing room on his way to conduct post-match interviews.

Guardiola said: “The situation at Old Trafford when you go to the home locker room you have to pass the away one, but we were inside celebrating.

“But that is normal, it wasn’t anything exceptional.”

The Spaniard, who takes his team to Swansea tonight, said: “I encourage the players to celebrate the victories, but of course inside the locker room.

“We have huge respect for our opponents — not just for Manchester United, all the opponents.

“When we lose you have to accept the defeat, when we win we try to celebrate.”

City and United have been asked by the FA for their observations regarding the alleged commotion.

Guardiola said: “What happened, happened. Hopefully it cannot happen again.

“On what happened we will make the statement to the FA investigation and they are going to decide.”

City are bidding for a Premier League record 15th successive league win at Swansea but will be without captain Vincent Kompany, who suffered a muscular injury at Old Trafford. On the defensive: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola