Mancini and Gerrard involved in post-match spat

Roberto Mancini and Steven Gerrard were involved in a heated verbal exchange after Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday.

City boss Mancini was not happy with a challenge made by Reds defender Glen Johnson on Joleon Lescott during the Carling Cup semi-final first-leg clash, believing it to be worse than the tackle that saw Vincent Kompany red-carded against Manchester United last weekend.

Liverpool skipper Gerrard, however, disagreed with the City boss and approached Mancini in the tunnel during his post-match interview the BBC and let his feelings be known to the Italian.

The 31-year-old said: “You say to the press that Wayne Rooney tried to get Kompany sent off – and you try to get Johnson sent off.”

The City boss retorted angrily, saying: “I say what I want” and “yes, yes,” yet the former Inter manager’s reaction was unclear.

Mancini confirmed the incident occurred, but said he his comments in the interview were not an attack on Johnson.

“Gerrard came to me and said I said something,” Mancini said. “Steven Gerrard can say what he wants. I said what I think. That is what I am used to doing. It is not important what Gerrard or the other players have said.”

“I said something (after the tackle). It was not for Johnson. It is for the tackle. This tackle was worse than Vinny’s. Everyone can see it.”

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish said he had not seen the incident, but Gerrard made it clear he thought Mancini was being hypocritical.

“He was talking about Wayne Rooney trying to get his player (Kompany) sent off and now he’s trying to get one of ours into trouble,” Gerrard said. “I don’t think that works.”

City captain Kompany will miss the return leg at Anfield in two weeks’ time due to suspension, as well as Premier League clashes with Wigan and title rivals Tottenham.