Sports

Chelsea angry and embarrassed after coach Marco Ianni started melee with Jose Mourinho

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LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Manager Jose Mourinho of Manchester United clashes with a member of the Chelsea backroom staff during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) — The club are unhappy with how the assistant conducted himself (Picture: Getty)

Chelseas hierarchy are angry and embarrassed by the touchline fracas that resulted from coach Marco Ianni celebrating in front of Jose Mourinhos face on Saturday.

A thrilling 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Manchester United was promptly overshadowed by ugly scenes off the pitch following Ross Barkleys late equaliser.

Ianni twice ran past Mourinho, celebrating wildly and taunting him, and the former Chelsea boss sprang out of the dugout in fury to confront the Italian, who quickly ran down the tunnel.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: A member of the backroom staff at Chelsea celebrates his sides second goal infront of Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester Unied during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) — Ianni twice ran past the United dugout celebrating (Picture: Getty)

Mourinho had to be held back by a combination of stewards and his own players, before opposite number Maurizio Sarri helped to calm tempers and promised to reprimand Ianni.

And now Sky Sports report that Chelsea are furious with the coach, who spent two years under Sarri at Napoli, and will back whatever punishment he serves out.

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The club believe his actions fell well below the standard expected of club staff, and are embarrassed by his decision to leave his seat and celebrate in front of the United bench.

Mourinho spoke with Ianni after the match in Sarris office and he apologised, though the Chelsea boss is still expected to discipline him.

Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (L) shakes hands with Chelsea's Italian head coach Maurizio Sarri (R) as Chelsea's fitness coach Paolo Bertelli (C) stands by after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 20, 2018. - The game finished 2-2. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images — Sarri was quick to try and calm the situation down (Picture: Getty/AFP)

Speaking about the incident afterwards, Mourinho told Sky Sports: I am not annoyed with anything. What happened was with Sarris assistant, and Sarri was the first one to come to me to say he would resolve the problem internally with me.

After that his assistant come to me in Sarris office and apologised to me. I immediately said if you really feel that way, and you want to apologise, of course I accept apologies, and to forget it because I made lots of mistakes in my career. So Im not going to kill you because of one.