Manchester United and Manchester City players were involved in an ugly tunnel fracas after the game as tempers boiled over after the derby.

Daily Mirror reports that United coach Jose  Mourinho was hit on the head by an empty plastic bottle and was also doused with milk from a flying carton as a melee ensued involving some 20 players and staff.

Mourinho demanded City players show ‘more respect’ as music blared out of their dressing room following their 2-1 victory. He walked into the away dressing room and was confronted by City keeper Ederson. The two were involved in a heated exchange, squaring up and shouting at each other in Portuguese.

United players followed Mourinho into the corridor between dressing rooms, sparking the skirmishes.

Witnesses said some players tried to swing punches while police looked on in disbelief. City coach Mikel Arteta, one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants, received a cut to the head which left him bleeding.

Eyewitnesses were staggered at the eruption that followed the final whistle. United believed City had celebrated too much following their 2-1 win and showed a ‘lack of respect’. City thought Jose Mourinho had encroached on their territory as he approached their dressing room to protest.

United’s coach had water squirted at him, was doused in milk and was hit on the head by an empty plastic bottle.

It will prompt comparisons with the infamous ‘Battle of the Buffet’ at the same ground in 2004 with Sir Alex Ferguson being hit by pizza after a game between United and Arsenal.

Cesc Fabregas recently confessed he was the guilty party on that occasion as tempers boiled over when United had beaten Arsenal 2-0 to end their 49-game unbeaten Premier League run.