Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been asked by the FA to explain his controversial comments about Manchester City before Sunday’s derby. The Portuguese made the comments ahead of Sunday’s derby, which City won 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Speaking it his pre-match press conference, Mourinho warned referee Michael Oliver to look out for City’s “tactical fouls” when they defend counter-attacks. An FA statement did not specify which particular remarks were of interest, although Mourinho said in a press conference that it only takes a “little bit of wind” to knock City’s players over.
At the pre-match press conference, Mourinho said (The Mirror):
“They [Manchester City] are a good team. They defend well, they react well to the moment they lose the ball.
“They have a good dynamic in attack, they have creative movement. They have amazing players, they have a fantastic coach, they have lots of good things.
“If you ask me one thing that I don’t like a lot it’s that they lose their balance very easily.
“You know, a little bit of wind and they fall. Many times in that situation, they need what is called a tactical foul and then it is up to the referee to analyse and to make a decision about it. But I cannot speak about that.
“My answer always has to be, ‘the referee has to do his job’ but you know that I cannot speak about the referee.”
The FA have asked for Mourinho’s observations and he has until 6 pm on December 18, Monday, to respond.
Meanwhile, both United and City have already been asked by FA to provide observations on a post-match fracas in the tunnel at Old Trafford, with Mourinho reportedly irked at Manchester City’s post-match celebrations.
It has been reported that Mourinho went to the City dressing room to complain about excessive post-match celebrations, sparking a melee in which he had a carton of milk and water thrown at him from inside the dressing room, which hit one of his backroom staff, while City assistant coach Mikel Arteta suffered a cut to the head during the incident.
It has since emerged there are no CCTV cameras in the tunnel in which the 20-man brawl erupted. The incident was not included in referee Michael Oliver’s match report, prompting the FA now to investigate.