Mourinho and Pep on THAT derby bust-up

Neither boss backs down after bad blood spills over at derby

BOTH United and City managers are standing their ground following the ugly scenes that followed the Blues’ fiery 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United manager Jose Mourinho and some of his players confronted City players and staff at the door of the away dressing room after the derby – claiming the visitors’ exuberant post-match partying lacked respect.

The Portuguese was confronted by City goalkeeper Ederson, and a shouting match ensued before the United manager had water and milk thrown at him as the bad blood boiled over.

A 15-man melee is believed to have ensued, with Romelu Lukaku understood to have attempted to enter the City dressing room. Blues coach Mikel Arteta was left with a cut face, and captain Vincent Kompany intervened before the scuffle ended.

City boss Pep Guardiola says he is ‘sorry’ if United were offended – but insists he and his players did not overstep the mark with their celebrations, which sent them 11 points clear at the top of the table.

And the Blues boss said the Reds had behaved in a similar way in the past. Various reports have suggested other United players were involved and Mourinho was asked at his press conference ahead of tonight’s Bournemouth game if he was confident his players behaved in the right way. He said: “I am not confident – I know.” Mourinho had earlier questioned City’s behaviour and amplified on that by referring to United’s 3-1 triumph at Arsenal on December 2.

“The diversity of behaviour, of opinion, of education,” he added. “What we did in the Arsenal stadium, you know? It was completely diverse. What we did, what happened after that match, the way we behaved as winners.”

Guardiola added: “Hopefully, it is never going to happen again. If we were not correct than I apologise to Manchester United. Our intentions was not that. It was to celebrate inside the locker room. If the people cannot understand that then I’m sorry. We won a derby. If we offended United – not just one player, not Jose – Manchester United, then I apologise.”

Guardiola said he accepts passions can boil over – and implied United may have done the same in the past.