Mourinho held back from chasing Chelsea coach Marco Ianni down tunnel

Jose Mourinho chases Chelsea coach Marco Ianni down tunnel to spark ugly melee after Manchester United concede late equaliser at Chelsea

  • Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho reacted furiously after being taunted by Marco Ianni
  • Chelsea second assistant coach Ianni taunted Mourinho following Ross Barkley’s late equaliser
  • Ianni celebrated with a fist pump and then ran past the United dugout, leaving Mourinho livid 
  • Mourinho had to be restrained as he attempted to chase Ianni down the Stamford Bridge tunnel 
  • Players from both sides involved in a brawl and Chelsea fans chanted ‘f*** off Mourinho’
  • Mourinho revealed after the game that both Sarri and Ianni had apologised to him following 2-2 draw

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho reacted furiously after Chelsea’s assistant coach Marco Ianni taunted him following Ross Barkley’s injury-time equaliser at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho chased Ianni down the tunnel, attempting to grab the Italian before security staff stepped in to drag the Portuguese back.

Players, coaches and officials from both sides then surrounded Mourinho in chaotic scenes while scuffles broke out on the pitch as tensions threatened to boil over.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is stunned as Chelsea’s second assistant coach Marco Ianni celebrates in front of him

Ianni heads back to the Chelsea dugout after his celebration as Mourinho prepares to confront him

Mourinho reacted furiously to Ianni’s actions and jumped out of the dugout to attempt to confront him

The United boss had to be restrained as he tried to chase Ianni down the tunnel during ugly scenes at Stamford Bridge

WHO IS MARCO IANNI? 

Marco Ianni followed Maurizio Sarri from Napoli to Chelsea this summer.

He had spent two years as technical assistant to Sarri in Italy before becoming his second assistant coach at Stamford Bridge.

Ianni forms part of Sarri’s 10-man strong backroom staff, along with club legend Gianfranco Zola, one of two assistant first-team coaches.

In Italy he was known as one of the four ‘wizards’ credited with being the brains behind Sarri’s Napoli, with a focus on tactics. 

 

The incident started when Ianni provoked Mourinho after the goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time during the 2-2 draw. 

Immediately after Barkley scored, Ianni got up and did a vigorous first pump in front of the United dugout, which Mourinho ignored.

However, Ianni continued to celebrate in a demonstrative manner and ran past the United dugout, with the visitors’ coaching staff and players stunned by his actions. 

On this occasion Mourinho was livid and reacted angrily, attempting to chase Ianni down the tunnel before being held back, with members of the coaching staff from both teams involved.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri also celebrated with a fist pump, but it was Ianni who incurred Mourinho’s wrath with his actions.  

Chelsea fans responded by chanting ‘f*** off Mourinho’ at their former manager, who they once adored.

Mourinho issued a riposte after the final whistle by making a three-finger salute to the Chelsea fans in reference to three Premier League titles that he won while with the club. 

Members of coaching staff from both sides crowded round as tensions flared in the closing stages of the game

After the game, Mourinho was eager to play down the incident and revealed that both Sarri and Ianni had apologised to him. 

Speaking on Sky Sports, Mourinho said: ‘What happened with Sarri’s assistant, Sarri was the first one to come to me and say he’d resolve the problem internally and his assistant came to me in Sarri’s office and apologised to me. 

‘And if you want to apologise I will accept it apologised and forget it because I have made mistakes in my career so I’m not going to kill you because of one.’ 

Chelsea boss Sarri, meanwhile, refused to elaborate on events but admitted his man had been in the wrong. 

He said: ‘Sincerely I have not seen (the incident). But then I have spoken with Jose, and with a complement of the staff, because I think that we were on the wrong side. So I have dealt with this immediately. It’s private [the punishment].’ 

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri celebrates following his side’s equaliser while Ianni can be seen getting out of the dugout

Mourinho cannot hide his frustration after Ianni taunted him in the immediate aftermath of Ross Barkley’s equaliser

Mourinho is held back as he attempts to chase Ianni down the tunnel following the incident

Mourinho cannot control his anger following the incident during the game at Stamford Bridge

The United coaching staff restrain Mourinho as he looks to confront Ianni following his actions

Players and members of coaching staff from both sides crowded around the tunnel following the game

Chelsea opened the scoring through Antonio Rudiger in the first half before Anthony Martial’s second-half brace saw United take control of the game only for Barkley to equalise. 

The result means that United have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions, with speculation regarding Mourinho’s future at the club refusing to subside. 

United are back in action on Tuesday when they host Juventus in the Champions League.

Members of staff from both sides were involved in a scuffle after Chelsea’s equaliser during the dramatic encounter

Chelsea players including Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta get involved as tempers flare

The United manager returns to his dugout after the incident during the closing stages of the game

The incident sparked a confrontation the pitch, with both sets of players involved in a brawl

Players from both teams were involved in a melee during stoppage time after the incident involving Mourinho

The melee between the players came at the end of an enthralling second half as the sides drew 2-2

Mourinho issued a three-finger salute to jeering Chelsea fans in reference to the Premier League titles he won with them

After the game Mourinho discussed the high-profile incident with Chelsea manager Sarri

Mourinho and Sarri shook hands with each other after the game, with the latter apologising for his and Ianni’s actions


  • ‘He’s not concentrating, he doesn’t do his job. It’s ill…


    ‘I would say it’s a reckless approach away from home’: Gary…


    Manchester United stars arrive at London hotel ahead of…


    ‘We are talking about a coach who has won everything and won…


    Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United – PLAYER RATINGS: Alvaro…


    Jose Mourinho chases Chelsea coach Marco Ianni down tunnel…

Share this article


Source: Read Full Article