Jose Mourinho was involved in post-match controversy after seeing his Roma side lose to city rivals Lazio.
The Special One, who was serving a two-game touchline ban but was allowed to be in the dressing room, ended up confronting Lazio president Claudio Lotito. Tempers flared at the Stadio Olympico, with the contest settled in the second-half courtesy of Mattia Zaccagni's strike.
Three men would see red - two for Roma and one from Lazio - whilst both sides also had staff members dismissed. Alessio Romagnoli celebrated in front of the away dressing room, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which sparked the post-match scenes in Rome.
Lotito attempted to calm the situation, before Mourinho then reportedly took aim at him. The Lazio president then went for the former Chelsea boss, stating: "I am the Lazio President. Who are you? This is my home and you shouldn’t even be here." Roma director Tiago Pinto also had to get involved to break up a scuffle involving Lazio star Luis Alberto and Mourinho’s assistant Salvatore Foti.
Sarri's assistant, Marco Ianni, was sent-off in the first-half. It was not the first time he'd been at the centre of controversy against a Mourinho side. Back in 2018 it was he who celebrated a Chelsea equaliser in front of the Special One, then in charge at Manchester United, which sparked a brawl at Stamford Bridge.
Lazio's Alberto was more than happy to swipe at Roma after the win however as he said: “When there is so much talking before a match after, you should remain quiet. Roma didn’t play the derby, they only came here to provoke. It happens all the time. They talk too much and then they feel f*****. We were good. It was the right moment to take a step forward. Now I’ll celebrate with my family.”
Romagnoli also stated: “I’ve been dreaming of a debut like this in a derby. There won’t be a third derby this season, right? We know how they play, but we were better than them. It was important to win and the clean sheet makes the victory even more special."
During the week, after Lazio were dumped out of Europe and Roma advanced in the Europa League, Mourinho quipped: “Obviously I’m not happy that a lot of my players from tonight have to play again on Sunday while Lazio are at home smoking a cigarette with Sarri.”
The win lifts Lazio up to second with the cluster of teams below runaway leaders Napoli immensely bunched up. Roma have dropped down to fifth - outside the Champions League spots - after a third loss in four games. Mourinho's side are just a point off AC Milan in fourth however.
