Manchester United ace Romelu Lukaku reportedly ‘threw bottle’ at Mikel Arteta leaving him bleeding from the face during Old Trafford tunnel bust-up
Man City had just beaten their great rivals 2-1 at Old Trafford when it all kicked off in the tunnel and the dressing rooms
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MIKAEL ARTETA was cut on the forehead after being hit by a plastic water bottle allegedly thrown by Romelu Lukaku, according to Spanish media.
Manchester City had just beaten their bitter rivals United at Old Trafford when things took a nasty turn in the tunnel and dressing rooms.
It is being reported that Arteta had "blood pouring down his face" and left the stadium with "a wound on his forehead".
And Spanish radio station said that the injury was a result of being hit by a bottle thrown by Romelu Lukaku.
There is no indication that the Man City coach was intentionally targeted.
A Manchester United source has told SunSport that manager Jose Mourinho was angry with the City players for the way they celebrated and "told them to show more respect".
The City dressing room "couldn't believe it" as they were just playing their music at the normal volume level.
Some of the City backroom staff are then believed to have tried to close the dressing room door when Mourinho and then Lukaku were involved in a scuffle with their fierce rivals.
PARTY TIME Incredible scenes as Man City celebrated victory in dressing room
Police officers were understood to be standing in the tunnel area although are not thought to have been involved.
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One eye witness told SunSport: “People couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
“It was going crazy for a few seconds, with loads of screaming and shouting. It looked like it might get completely out of control.”
Mourinho, furious at referee Michael Oliver for booking Ander Herrera for a second half dive which he was convinced should have brought a penalty for a foul by match-winner Nicolas Otamendi, had stalked down the tunnel at the end of the game.
The United boss had passed by the City dressing room to head towards the home enclave when the throbbing bass of the music being boomed out as the door open saw him turn around and head back.
It is understood that the United boss then confronted Ederson, accusing him of play-acting and wasting time in the latter stages of the game.
The City players roared back in support of their keeper as Mourinho shouted at him: “Show some respect! Show some respect!”
There were even claims that milk, water and a bottle were thrown at Mourinho at the height of the ruck.
The allegations drew parallels with the “pizzagate” ruck sparked by Cesc Fabregas when he threw food at Sir Alex Ferguson after United ended Arsenal’s 49-match unbeaten run in 2004.
Other sources insisted that this had not happened but the furious scenes saw security staff frantically trying to intervene and send the United manager and his colleagues back into the home dressing room.
Two City substitutes, who were late down the tunnel, were described as being stunned by what they had witnessed. One insider added: “It was all going off.”
Mourinho made no mention of the incident - and did not appear obviously distressed or showing signs of having ben pelted - in his television interviews or press conference appearance.
But the United boss did make a bee-line for Oliver’s dressing room to speak to the referee about the penalty decision.
The Football Association will now wait for the referee's report before deciding to take any action over the tunnel spat.
Mourinho suggested after the game that the Premier League leaders were fortunate to seal a record 14th consecutive win.
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Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “I think they are lucky, I think they have all these decisions in their favour.
“We can speak about anything you want, we can bring any football theory, stats, ball possession, everything you want but like last season it is a huge penalty in a crucial moment.
“You expect City to score great goals, not to score two disgraceful goals.
"They had apparent control of the game but the biggest save is the double save of their goalkeeper [Ederson].”
David Silva put the visitors into the lead on 43 minutes but Marcus Rashford levelled things up just four minutes later with a fine drilled effort.
But some poor defending and a miscued clearance from Lukaku himself saw the ball fall to Nicolas Otamendi to ram home what proved to be the winner nine minutes into the second half.