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In the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms, security guard Steven Gerrard and strategist Roberto Mancini got into a conflict.
The disagreement occurred after the first leg of the English League Cup semi-finals, which Liverpool's team [link="http://eurofootball.com/index.php?page=news&id=25941"]won 1-0 away[/link]. Gerrard and Mancini disagreed on whether Glen Johnson should have been punished with a red card for trying to take the ball from Joleon Lescott while sliding in with both legs.
The passions have been high since the weekend, when the referee [link="http://eurofootball.com/index.php?page=news&id=25933"]sent off "Man City" defender Vincent Kompany[/link] in the match against "Man Utd" for a similar action. This time, "Liverpool" representative Johnson did not receive a red card for a similar incident.
"Gerrard came up to me and said something," the Italian said. "He can say whatever he wants, and I responded with what I think. Although I'm not used to doing that."
And he added: "I reacted to the attempt to take the ball, not Johnson. My thoughts were only about that action, as it was rougher than Kompany's. Everyone saw that."
At the same time, Gerrard's opinion was different: "I disagree with Mancini. Johnson clearly won the ball. Moreover, after the match against 'Man Utd,' the coach blamed [link="http://eurofootball.com/index.php?page=news&id=25919"]Wayne Rooney for convincing the referee[/link] to show a red card, and tonight he did the same to punish Johnson. I don't think that's fair."
The debate was sparked by Johnson's actions.
