City manager refuses to elaborate on details of clash with Mourinho
Guardiola also confirms City have passed on their information to the FA as part of investigation
Mourinho refuses to respond to Guardiola's comments
United boss claims fracas down to 'diversity' of opinions
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.
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
Follow the live news below...
Live Updates
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's press conferences featuring Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, in the wake of Sunday's Manchester derby involving City and United and the ugly scrap in the tunnel after the final whistle.
Both managers will undoubtedly face questions surrounding the controversial incident, which is being looked at by the Football Association and could lead to a full investigation.
So far, we know that:
Jose Mourinho was covered in milk during the melee
A bottle thrown at Mikel Arteta left the City assistant manager with a cut near his eye
United striker Romelu Lukaku and City goalkeeper Ederson both involved in fracas
Hopefully, what actually happened will become much clearer by the end of the day, while there is also the small matter of tomorrow's Premier League matches to look forward to as well.
Both press conferences are due to get underway at 13:30 GMT, and we'll bring you all the updates as they happen.
So how did we get here? As many had turned their attentions from Sunday's derby to other matters such as dinner, the return to work and the week ahead, the true story was only just starting to unravel at Old Trafford that the two sets of players had been involved in a tunnel scrap.
We had Mark Critchley there to report it as the news became public:
There was plenty of confusion surrounding what actually happened, with a number of players being accused of having a part in the fracas and Jose Mourinho alleged to have triggered off the argument by approaching the City dressing room upset with how loudly they were celebrating the 2-1 victory.
Soon enough, the story gained traction and the Football Association announced that they were looking into the matter and wanted to hear from each club about their side of the story.
Both City and United have until tomorrow evening to respond.
Meanwhile, there was still plenty of reaction to what had just happened on the pitch, with United midfielder Ander Herrera evidently upset with his yellow card for diving. The Spaniard went to ground during the second half after a challenge from Nicolas Otamendi, and he pleaded his case afterwards by insisting he should be allowed to appeal his booking - something that is available in Spain but not in England.
The events at Old Trafford have not gone unnoticed by others, either. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has had his say on the matter - having experienced his own fair share of scraps with rivals during his career - and he could not help but see the funny side of it.
The rivalry between Mourinho and Guardiola is a long-winded one that stems back to their time as managers of Inter Milan and Barcelona respectively, which has then followed them ever since and landed at the top of the Premier League.
But as Miguel Delaney discusses, is it an equal rivalry, or do results suggest that it's one-way traffic these days?
All of this raised the question for Jack Pitt-Brooke: how much better would Manchester United be if Pep Guardiola was their manager and not Jose Mourinho?
It's something that fans have questioned themselves this season, along with former players such as Eric Cantona and Andrei Kanchelskis, and you can see our verdict below.
Pep Guardiola will be appearing before the media in under half an hour, and will get the first chance to give his side of the story that is quickly being built-up as "Milkgate".
Jose Mourinho will speak to MUTV first, and we'll bring you the latest from the in-house interview that is unlikely to send shockwaves through the football world. However, afterwards he will face the media, and don't be surprised to see a few of Guardiola's claims put to the United boss in order to gain his response.
Everyone's waiting for Jose...
Other managers have been asked about the Old Trafford fracas, with the Premier League displaying differing opinions on whether City were right to celebrate so openly:
Jurgen Klopp
“We’ve had one or two draws at home and I’ve heard loud music from the other side. I’ve got no problem with that. Everything is allowed as long as you show the right amount of respect.”
Arsene Wenger
"It's part of the intensity. It can go overboard. It happened to us. It happened to us. Hopefully you commit 100 per cent to the pitch and are an angel after. I don't know what happened really. It is difficult to take to see the 100 per cent celebration on the other side. It is an experience that's a little bit offensive."
Sam Allardyce
It's whatever they fancy doing. If they want to music, to sing and shout, that’s up to them. It’s not your decision to do anything about it as an opposition manager. If you've lost, you say to your players listen to 'that’s what you should be doing'."
Eddie Howe
"People need to understand the atmosphere in the tunnel after big games. It's inevitable that sometimes things will spill over. It's important to show respect, not rub faces in it when you win."
PEP GUARDIOLA ON THE OLD TRAFFORD FRACAS
"We shook hands and afterwards went to the locker room. I encouraged the players to celebrate the victory in the locker room because we have great respect for our opponents.
"I am the guy who encouraged them to celebrate, but inside. What happened after, happened, and hopefully will not happen again."
Can you tell us any details about Jose entering your changing room?
"I'm not going to comment on that.
Were they over the top celebrations?
"Nope, definitely not. It was the same as the Southampton game, we were happy. We won a derby against United, at that moment the best derby to win. Do people expect us not to celebrate? No, we celebrate it.
What happened to Mikel Arteta?
"I'm not going to explain the comments about what happened there. The FA investigation knows our opinion on that.
"I was clear what I said, that's all."
Disappointed that it's overshadowed the performance?
Pep Guardiola: "People talk, people talk. The game was good, we played our way and we could have scored more goals. In the end, they could have drawn, they could've won."
Guardiola adds:
"He plays in his way, we play in our way. Our counter-attack was not perfect.
"I remember when I was in Spain, Vieira vs Keane, it’s not the first time, hopefully it’ll be the last.
Pep Guardiola on the Champions League draw vs Basel:
"It's Basel, it's from the group stage that United was and I didn't see too much. In that draw, it's in February and we're in December, so ask me the question a week or two before that game because I don't know what our condition will be or the condition of the Basel players."
On Vincent Kompany's injury:
"Swansea tomorrow, no, but I think it's less than we expect.
"It's muscular."
That's it from Pep Guardiola, who by the sounds of it believes neither he nor himself have done anything wrong. City have already passed their information on to the FA for their investigation, and while Guardiola confirmed that an incident happened, he refused to elaborate on any details that came from it.
What he did say though was that City were well within their right to celebrate as they did on Sunday, given the importance of a derby victory, and he does not believe the win has been overshadowed either.
Over to you, Jose...
JOSE MOURINHO RESPONDS
"“He says, he says, 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, a diversity in behaviours, diversity in education, just that and nothing more than that."
Jose on Marcos Rojo's fitness:
"He's a brave guy. I don't know - let's see if he can be ready for the match. But if he's not ready, we have other alternatives to play."
On Phil Jones:
"Phil Jones was already on the bench [at the weekend]. The injury is behind [him] and hopefully he can stay fit."
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 United vs Manchester City player ratings
Manchester United vs Manchester City player ratings
1/23
Manchester United vs Manchester City: Player ratings
We run the rule over the two teams.
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2/23
David de Gea - 6
Made a superb save at the front post to deny Sane’s powerful shot. Could do little about either City goal.
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3/23
Antonio Valencia - 5
Rarely got forward. Defensively he was troubled by Jesus, Sane and Sterling.
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4/23
Chris Smalling - 5
Regimented when called upon and made a couple of important tackles.
5/23
Marcos Rojo - 5
Did not hold back with feisty tackles. Taken off at half time after clashing heads in the first half.
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6/23
Ashley Young - 5
Might have made the left-back spot in the side his own with anther sturdy performance. Like Valencia, he rarely got forward.
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7/23
Nemanja Matic - 5
A few nice touches in possession. Struggled to win the ball back and break up play. Strangely let De Bruyne and Silva play in front of him.
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8/23
Ander Herrera - 5
The man you want in a derby. He worked so hard in the middle against quality players. Rightly picked up a yellow card in the second half for diving.
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9/23
Anthony Martial - 6
Made a couple of nice runs forward but should have taken advantage of Walker’s early booking.
10/23
Jesse Lingard - 5
Struggled to get involved but looked promising on the rare occasions he did get on the ball.
11/23
Marcus Rashford - 7
Took his chance in the first half well and equalised just before the break with a sharp finish.
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12/23
Romelu Lukaku - 5
Can’t have had many touches in the first half and was largely non-existent. Twice failed to clear crosses, twice contributed to City’s goals. Should be well away from defending his own goal.
AFP
13/23
Ederson - 8
Made a heroic double save late in the game. He bravely denied Lukaku with his face then got up to prevent Mata poking in a certain goal.
14/23
Kyle Walker - 6
Booked in the third minute for a needless foul in the middle of the pitch.
15/23
Vincent Kompany - 5
Largely quiet display. Put in a very strong derby-like challenge on Herrera. Withdrawn at half time.
16/23
Nicolas Otamendi - 6
Could have done better to clear the ball before Rashford’s goal. Reacted well to score from close range in the second half.
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17/23
Fabian Delph - 5
Failed to clear a simple cross which then fell to Rashford who scored.
18/23
Fernandinho - 6
Slotted in at centre back for a short period in the second half. His versatility was important for City.
19/23
Kevin De Bruyne - 6
His final pass was uncharacteristically off today although he did test De Gea with a couple of powerful shots.
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20/23
David Silva - 7
Was in the right place at the right time to put City ahead in the first half with an instinctive poacher’s finish from close range.
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21/23
Raheem Sterling - 6
Looked bright around the box but was seemingly reluctant to shoot.
22/23
Leroy Sané - 6
Showed a few glimpses of quality but was ultimately unable to trouble United.
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23/23
Gabriel Jesus - 6
A few fancy runs and passes but provided no end product. Only lasted an hour.
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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.
Manchester United and Manchester City players clashed after a fiery derby (Getty)
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”.
Mourinho was upset with City's (Getty)
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.
Ederson enjoying the post-match celebrations (Getty)
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.
Arteta (left) suffered a cut to his face near his right eye (Getty)
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.
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