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Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd: Jose Mourinho involved in bust-up after Ross Barkley saves Blues

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Stamford Bridge
Ross Barkley scores for Chelsea
Ross Barkley's late goal maintained Chelsea's unbeaten Premier League start and sparked a melee on the touchline

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was involved in a furious touchline bust-up after Ross Barkley's 96th-minute equaliser rescued Chelsea's unbeaten Premier League start at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho's side looked on course for an outstanding win over his former club after two goals from Anthony Martial overturned the first-half lead given to the hosts by Antonio Rudiger's 21st-minute header.

He bowed his head in disappointment as Barkley scored in the dying seconds after a goalmouth scramble, but then reacted angrily as Chelsea technical assistant Marco Ianni celebrated in front of him before then pumping his fists in Mourinho's direction again.

The Portuguese jumped from his seat and was then held back by a mixture of stewards and Manchester United staff as he attempted to get down the tunnel at Ianni.

It was a dramatic conclusion as Mourinho saw victory snatched away after he had replied to the taunts of Chelsea fans by holding up three fingers to remind them of the three Premier League titles he won while in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues looked in control when Rudiger took advantage of Paul Pogba's poor marking to head home Willian's corner, but United responded superbly after the break and Martial's double - a smart, swivelling finish and a composed, low effort - put the visitors on the brink of three points until that frantic finale.

Mourinho's emotions boil over

Mourinho kept his emotions in check for most of the afternoon as returned again to the club where enjoyed success still under pressure at Manchester United - but then it all boiled over in that super-charged finish.

He allowed himself a celebratory fist-pump when Martial drove in United's second goal. It was low-key and would have gone pretty much unnoticed had it not been caught on the television cameras.

It was then, as the clock ticked down, that Mourinho's body language became animated and his emotions bubbled to the surface, concluding in that chaotic confrontation by the tunnel entrance as he felt Chelsea technical staff member Ianni overdid the celebrations of Barkley's late leveller.

The manager's temperature was rising even before then as United protected the lead that could have given them a crucial win, with the added delight for Mourinho of achieving it at Stamford Bridge, where he won those three titles. No matter how calm he tried to remain, you could see how much this meant to him.

When goalscorer Martial chased back towards the halfway line to close down a Chelsea player, Mourinho was jumping out of his seat in the technical area - first to urge the France forward on to greater efforts to win the ball, then with an extravagant fist-pump, applause and even an advance onto the pitch to slap him on the back for completing his task.

Mourinho's understandable anguish as Barkley celebrated his equaliser was not helped by what he clearly saw as gloating from the Chelsea backroom member, and he was only persuaded to let the matter rest after being calmed down by stewards and his staff.

The Portuguese decided to have the last word with that three-fingered gesture towards Chelsea fans - but victory would have been a much sweeter response.

Sarri assistant very impolite, but I accept apology - Mourinho

Martial delivers for Mourinho

Martial has often cut a discontended figure at Manchester United this season - and his relationship with Mourinho has been the subject of much debate.

The 22-year-old France forward has been marginalised on occasions this season, but has now proved his worth and quality in successive games.

Martial's snapshot finish played its part in the comeback from two goals down to beat Newcastle United before the international break, and on Saturday at Stamford Bridge he was the spearhead for United's revival after Chelsea controlled the first half.

He equalised with a finish of superb technique on the turn, then coolly completed good work by Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford by steering a low shot into the bottom corner.

Martial was also willing to do the dirty work and was rewarded with a warm embrace and words from his manager that brought a smile to his face when he was substituted.

United's hierarchy clearly see Martial as a key element of their future and hope he will commit to a long-term contract. Mourinho will certainly be grateful for his contribution in the past two games.

Chelsea show fighting spirit

Chelsea's wild celebrations after Barkley scrambled home their equaliser demonstrated the importance of keeping their unbeaten league start going against one of their close rivals.

Maurizio Sarri's side had been the victim of Daniel Sturridge's late equaliser when Liverpool took a point here - but were grateful for something similar of their own this time, with Barkley on hand to smash home after David Luiz's header hit a post and David de Gea saved brilliantly from Rudiger.

Chelsea boss Sarri will surely be concerned about how his side lost the control they enjoyed in the first half, when they were untroubled by United, but he must be delighted they were still battling and pushing so deep into six minutes of stoppage time to rescue what could be an important point.

The Blues have shown they are willing to scrap as well as turn on the style - and it was enough to ensure they are yet to suffer a league loss this season.

Man of the match - Anthony Martial (Manchester United)

Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial scored for the second game in succession on his fifth consecutive start for Manchester United

'We were in the wrong' - what they said

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri to BBC Sport: "We have played very well in the first hour but then we have played the match of United - a physical match, and United are better than us in a physical match. I am disappointed with the last 30 minutes. We could win but at the end one point is enough.

"We were not organised for the long ball, we usually play with short passes so we were not organised for this in the last half hour. This is not our football. I prefer to play our football for 90 minutes.

"I didn't see what happened but I have spoken to Jose Mourinho. I understood that we were on the wrong side of the situation. I have spoken to a member of my staff and have dealt with this immediately."

Chelsea were wrong in Mourinho touchline incident - Sarri

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho to BBC Sport: "A fantastic match, a very undeserved result for us but that is football. We were the best team, even in the first half when we were losing.

"We were in control, tactically - the result is really unfair for us. We conceded from two set-pieces, but that is a way to score goals and you have to be able to defend against that.

"Anthony Martial is improving, he is doing different things than before. He is a more complete player than before - but he needs to improve. He has a huge talent and he wants it, which is a good thing. The team as a team was really good."

Tell us about your reaction at the end...

"It is not my reaction, it is Sarri's assistant. He was very impolite but Sarri took care of the situation. They have both apologised to me. I accept. For me, the story is over.

"Don't do what everyone does and say: 'It's Mourinho who does things.' I don't know his name, I don't need to know. Everything is fine."

Fortress Stamford Bridge - the stats

  • Chelsea have lost just one of their past 17 home Premier League games against Manchester United, a 3-2 defeat in October 2012.
  • The Blues are unbeaten in their past 65 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge in which they have been ahead at half-time, winning 54 of those. They last lost 5-3 against Arsenal in October 2011.
  • Ross Barkley's goal was the latest Manchester United have conceded in the league since October 2009.
  • Barkley has scored in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since November 2015, when he played for Everton.
  • Anthony Martial has scored more goals for Manchester United than any other player (40) since he arrived at the club in September 2015.
  • Martial scored twice in a competitive game for United for the first time since November 2016 against West Ham.
  • Manchester United have kept just one clean sheet in their nine Premier League games this season, after having had seven by this stage last season.
  • All three of Antonio Rudiger's Premier League goals for Chelsea have come at Stamford Bridge.

What's next

Chelsea host Bate Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday (kick-off 20:00 BST), before returning to Premier League action at Burnley on Sunday, 28 October (13:30 GMT).

Manchester United welcome Juventus to Old Trafford in the Champions League on Tuesday (20:00 BST), and then host Everton in the league next Sunday (16:00 GMT).

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Arrizabalaga
  • 28Azpilicueta
  • 2RüdigerBooked at 30mins
  • 30David Luiz
  • 3Alonso
  • 7Kanté
  • 5Jorginho
  • 17KovacicSubstituted forBarkleyat 69'minutes
  • 22WillianSubstituted forPedroat 73'minutes
  • 29MorataSubstituted forGiroudat 79'minutes
  • 10E HazardBooked at 34mins

Substitutes

  • 4Fàbregas
  • 8Barkley
  • 11Pedro
  • 13Caballero
  • 18Giroud
  • 21Zappacosta
  • 24Cahill

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1De Gea
  • 18YoungBooked at 27mins
  • 12Smalling
  • 2Lindelöf
  • 23Shaw
  • 31MaticBooked at 13mins
  • 6Pogba
  • 10RashfordSubstituted forSánchezat 85'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 8MataBooked at 67minsSubstituted forHerreraat 75'minutes
  • 11MartialSubstituted forPereiraat 84'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 9Lukaku

Substitutes

  • 3Bailly
  • 7Sánchez
  • 15Pereira
  • 17Fred
  • 21Herrera
  • 22Romero
  • 36Darmian
Referee:
Mike Dean
Attendance:
40,721

Match Stats

Home TeamChelseaAway TeamMan Utd
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home21
Away7
Shots on Target
Home6
Away4
Corners
Home5
Away3
Fouls
Home9
Away17

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Chelsea 2, Manchester United 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Manchester United 2.

  3. Goal!

    Goal! Chelsea 2, Manchester United 2. Ross Barkley (Chelsea) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.

  4. Post update

    Attempt saved. Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.

  5. Post update

    David Luiz (Chelsea) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by César Azpilicueta with a cross.

  6. Booking

    Andreas Pereira (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.

  7. Post update

    Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Andreas Pereira (Manchester United).

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jorginho.

  10. Booking

    Alexis Sánchez (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  11. Post update

    Jorginho (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Alexis Sánchez (Manchester United).

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by N'Golo Kanté.

  14. Post update

    Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).

  16. Post update

    Foul by Ross Barkley (Chelsea).

  17. Post update

    Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester United. Alexis Sánchez replaces Marcus Rashford because of an injury.

  19. Post update

    Foul by David Luiz (Chelsea).

  20. Post update

    Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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