Mourinho puts fracas down to ‘diversity’

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has questioned Manchester City’s behaviour in the wake of the post-derby fracas.

Pep Guardiola’s runaway Premier League leaders won Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated Old Trafford clash to open up an 11-point gap over the hosts.

Wild celebrations by City met the final whistle, merrymaking that got under the skin of United.

Milk and water are claimed to have been thrown at Mourinho after a reported confrontation with City goalkeeper Ederson, leading to an altercation involving up to 20 players and staff in the crowded corridor leading to the dressing rooms.

The FA has given both clubs until today to reply to a request for observations into an incident the United boss was initially coy to speak about in a terse, truncated press conference for tonight’s match against Bournemouth.

He appeared to take exception to Guardiola’s claim that his side had not celebrated excessively at Old Trafford.

“He says, he says,” the United boss said. “He says, he says, you know?

“I’m not here to comment on his words.

“The only thing I can say is that for me it was just a question of diversity – diversity in behaviours, diversity in education. Just that and nothing more than that.”

That answer was followed by an abrupt end to the broadcast section of a press conference he was 16 minutes late to, a period in which Guardiola was addressing the issue for the media ahead of City’s trip to Swansea.

The Spaniard 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.

“I encourage the players to celebrate the victories, but of course inside the locker room,” Guardiola said. “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.”