‘Everybody makes mistakes’: Jose Mourinho wants Chelsea coach Marco Ianni to be given second chance after touchline row as Manchester United boss calls 35-year-old a ‘young boy’
- Jose Mourinho wants Marco Ianni to be left in peace after touchline scuffle
- Ianni’s celebrations after Chelsea’s late leveller drew anger from Mourinho
- Phil Neville had called for Ianni to be sacked over his ‘disgraceful’ actions
Jose Mourinho launched an impassioned defence of the Chelsea coach who taunted him following his former club’s injury-time equaliser on Saturday.
The Manchester United manager attempted to confront Marco Ianni as tempers threatened to boil over at Stamford Bridge. Ianni, an assistant coach, subsequently apologised.
‘I’m not happy that is going too far with the young boy,’ Mourinho said. ‘I don’t think he deserves more than what he got.
Following Ross Barkley’s late leveller in 2-2 draw, Marco Ianni sprinted down the touchline
He leapt in the air to celebrate after Ross Barkley’s decisive 96th-minute intervention
‘He apologised to me, I accept his apologies, I think he deserves a second chance, I don’t think he deserves or to be sacked.’
Having fallen behind to Antonio Rudiger’s early strike, an Anthony Martial double had put Mourinho’s men on the brink of victory before Ross Barkley equalised in the 96th minute.
The goal sparked delirium on the home fans, with Ianni racing down the touchline to celebrate, before apparing to goad Mourinho as he walked back to his seat.
The Portuguese reacted to Ianni, prompting staff, stewards, officials and players to get involved on the touchline.
Yet Mourinho believes Chelsea’s punishment of their member of staff is enough.
As he walked back along the pitch, Ianni appeared to goad Jose Mourinho in the away dugout
Mourinho had to be restrained after he reacted angrily to the Italian’s exuberant celebration
‘His club was strong with him and he went through a situation he recognises he was wrong,’ he said.
‘I hope everybody does the same as I did which is not to disturb a career of a young guy which is probably a great guy, is probably a coach of great potential and I’m not happy with it more than that.
‘It’s the end of story, with me. Let him work, everybody makes mistakes, I made mistakes.’
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