Manchester United vs Man City: Why the tunnel bust-up was down to a rivalry that goes way deeper than a top two derby clash
The match on Sunday was so big. Bigger than three points, bigger than the title. It was about showing the world who is top dog.
THERE was once the ‘Battle of the Buffet’. But this is a war.
For years Manchester City had to live in United’s shadow.
Then came the Abu Dhabi takeover, then came Agueroooooo. They are on the same playing field now.
Although City fans can understandably claim to be on another level following Sunday’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford. It was not just the result but the nature of it.
Off the pitch the commercial departments are fighting to claim markets round the world.
United are well ahead on that - but with each occasion like Sunday, City chip away at their dominance, their prowess, their popularity. Which is why Sunday was so big. Bigger than three points, bigger than the title. It was about showing the world who is top dog.
TUNNEL TIMELINE
- Jose Mourinho walks towards the officials' dressing room to confront referee Michael Oliver
- He was furious having seen a TV replay of Ander Herrera's penalty appeal
- As he passed the open door of the away dressing room, he gets into a shouting match with goalkeeper Ederson, with the City squad playing loud music
- The pair argued in Portuguese and then English
- Mourinho screams at the City squad: "Shut up. You've won nothing yet"
- Players and staff from both sides involved with punches thrown - although none landed
- Elbows do find the mark
- Vincent Kompany lurches towards Mourinho and his staff
- Romelu Lukaku attempts to climb past United staff to slam dunk City rivals
- Mourinho almost loses his balance in the melee
- The Portuguese is then squirted with water by City staff, while cartons of milk are thrown at him
- Mikel Arteta suffers a cut above his eye - but the two clubs agree this was caused by him banging his head on the door, NOT by Lukaku throwing a bottle
Because the game will have been watched in bars across the world with licensing hours switched to accommodate those who find the tension too great.
That pressure spills over to managers and players.
MADCHESTER Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku tried to slam dunk City stars in tunnel bust-up as Vincent Kompany bundled towards Jose Mourinho
So with temperatures boiling and temples swelling it is little wonder it kicks off.
Especially when United feel City are not showing respect, when you can hear it in the corridors and through the walls in your own ground.
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Tempers were already at boiling point after Ander Herrera had a late penalty appeal turned down and was booked for diving.
Mourinho’s mood turned black after he returned to his dressing room and watched a replay of the incident convincing him it should have been a spot-kick. It was then that he headed to referee Michael Oliver’s room.
On his way the City dressing room door swung open and he heard their celebrations at full volume.
Already incensed he entered and targeted Ederson in particular.
The pair then had an argument before Mourinho released his verbal volley about City having won nothing yet.
As players and staff from both sides got involved punches were thrown but not landed but elbows found their victims.
There are claims of hypocrisy, City having been on the wrong end of similar celebrations themselves not least after Michael Owen’s last gasp winner in the incredible 4-3 meeting in 2011 at Old Trafford.
United, however, claim City’s celebrations were way over the top. And on their patch.
One eye witness said it was nothing like they had ever seen from an opponent before and that the celebrations were not confined to the dressing room.
The chanting and noise spilled into the corridor outside the adjacent dressing rooms much to the annoyance of United’s staff and players.
It was described by one witness as “not very classy”. They added: “It was way over the top. I was expecting the Premier League trophy to arrive.”
It was a humiliating afternoon for United. While City were celebrating downstairs, in the TV studios upstairs, City celeb fan Noel Gallagher was ripping into United old-boy Gary Neville, enjoying his discomfort. But Sunday’s incident has seriously soured relations between the two clubs.
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It did bring back memories of the infamous ‘Battle of the Buffet’ in October 2004 when United ended Arsenal’s 49 game unbeaten run having established themselves as the ‘Invincibles’ the season before.
Then Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger clashed outside the dressing rooms before Ferguson was hit by a flying slice of pizza.
After stewards and police calmed down Sunday’s situation a war of words followed in the after match press conferences.
Mourinho had already branded his opponents divers and cheaters with little tactical fouls ahead of the game. Afterwards he called them lucky. But Guardiola was having none of it.
Guardiola said: “Last season they used the same [excuses]. We won because we were better.”
He then lavished praise on his players for taking the game to United as they had done against champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The implication there loud and clear that there is only one team in Manchester playing the beautiful game.
That was perfectly obvious in the way United had been taken to pieces in their own backyard. That was painful enough. For City to rub United noses in it was clearly too much.