MANCHESTER UNITED AND Manchester City could learn a thing or two from sumo wrestlers after Sunday’s derby clash at Old Trafford reportedly descended into a post-march fracas, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Players from both clubs are said to have been involved in an alleged incident outside the away dressing room after goals from David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi gave City a 2-1 win – extending their lead at the top of the table over United to 11 points with a record 14th consecutive Premier League victory.
Among multiple accounts of the flashpoint are reports of United boss Jose Mourinho having a carton of milk thrown in his direction and visiting assistant coach Mikel Arteta suffering a cut head.
Arteta was Wenger’s club captain at Arsenal before taking up a role on Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff last year and the 68-year-old Frenchman’s views on the incident were keenly sought at a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s trip to West Ham.
Wenger’s Arsenal were involved in a well-documented post-match clash in the Old Trafford tunnel back in 2004, when Alex Ferguson was infamously hit by pizza thrown by then-Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
“I heard about that but I have not seen anything. They are part of the incidents that can happen in big derbies,” he said.
“In the press, you build these things up like it is life or death and then something happens after and you are surprised.
“That’s part of the intensity of the importance of the game. Sometimes it can go a bit overboard.
“It happened to us, it happened to them [United]. It’s unfortunate. Ideally you would commit 100 per cent, 200 per cent on the pitch and be an angel after. You want the passion to be on the football pitch.”
The weekend confrontation supposedly began when Mourinho approached the City dressing room to complain about what he perceived to be over-the-top celebrations.
Wenger conceded such instances can be hard to endure and drew an unusual contrast he experienced while managing Japanese club Grampus Eight between 1995 and 1996
He said: “It is difficult to take when you lose a big game to see the 100 per cent celebration of the other side. It is almost like an offensive experience.
“That’s why when I was in Japan I liked sumo. In sumo, you can never tell the guy who wins. He doesn’t show his happiness out of respect to his opponent. That shows how deep the culture of respect for each other is there.
“Is it something we can repeat here? I don’t know because it is not part of our culture.”
On Monday, the Football Association asked City and United for their observations of the incident. Referee Michael Oliver did not witness it and, therefore, did not include it in his report of the match.
Mourinho and Guardiola are set to address the media later on Tuesday ahead of their teams’ respective games against Bournemouth and Swansea City.
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I’d like to see Brian Kerr given another chance.A very positive forward thinking manager who still has the best win record for Ireland,is younger than O’Neill,and what he achieved with the Faroe Islands was phenomenal.Spend five minutes on Twitter and the Ipswich fans can’t wait to get rid of Mick.The word dinosaur seems to crop up a lot.For me Kerr who be a no brainer.
@Padraig: I think Kerr could have more of an impact given a remit at under age level, alongside Ruud Dokter. Or maybe even in charge of the under 21 team. It’s a real pity he’s gone completely unused.
I would miss Roy. I think he and Brian Kerr would be a good team.
@GARFARKLE: Roy over the senior and Kerr over the under 21s with a consulting role in the seniors, aiding with player transition to the senior side (even with an eye on the under 19s which looks like a hotbed at the moment). That would be great.
@EnKy: Good one. Thank you for expanding my point.
Bring back Mick
I wonder if Johnny Walters is only saying that because he’s gone from Stoke now, and he knows how detrimental MON is to the Irish team with his insistence, like Trappatoni’s, that the Irish players aren’t any good, and thus shouldn’t be allowed play football.
And finally:
Former Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni calls time on managerial career – after his wife said she’d ‘change the locks’ if he left again
https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/giovanni-trapattoni-retire-ireland-team-11841576
I think the fai will go for McCarthy.
Yea,let’s clamber for O’Neill,he’s won so much for Ireland!
Need an extension on the trophy room.
Actually can’t believe w
@Gary O’Hanlon: can’t believe people want Roy Keane as a manager. He is clueless. Passion, desire, commitment that’s all he ever says.