Police took to storm the tunnel as Man City and Atletico Madrid scrap at full time of Wednesday night’s Champions League tie.
The Premier League leaders held off the challenge of their LaLiga opponents, holding on to a 1-0 aggregate scoreline as Felipe was sent off for the hosts.
Pep Guardiola’s side will now face Real Madrid over two legs for a place in the final against either Liverpool or Villarreal.
The main talking point of the match however was on the chaos in the dying moments as Atletico, led by Diego Simeone, lost their cool.
It all kicked off at the Wanda Metropolitano! š³
Felipe lashed out at Phil Foden and was eventually sent off, while Stefan SaviÄ continued to lose the plot!
Chaos in Madrid! š„µ#UCL pic.twitter.com/MTYQeXxu9p
ā Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 13, 2022
Felipe was handed a second yellow card for a kick on Phil Foden, swiping at the Man City forward after a big challenge, and Stefan Savic sparked an altercation between both sets of players by trying to drag the midfielder off the pitch, before headbutting Raheem Sterling.
Even those sat on the bench got involved, with Jack Grealish getting his hair pulled in a brawl with former City defender Savic somehow escaping with just a yellow card.
Grealish also appeared to swear at him, saying: āOi, youāre a c***ā.
Things got worse in the tunnel at full time as the centre-back was seen going at Grealish who had been exchanging words with Savic, shouting in his direction.
Sime Vrsalkjo appeared to throw an object at the Man City players, while footage shows local police being forced to intervene.
š„ Kicking out at Phil Foden
š¤ Headbutting Raheem Sterling
š¤Æ Pulling Jack Grealish’s hairFair play to Manchester City for keeping their composure in Madrid š
š @rioferdy5, @JoleonLescott and Owen Hargreaves praise Pep Guardiola’s side.#UCL pic.twitter.com/JPmcOrzIi0
ā Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 13, 2022
Speaking after seeing the footage, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand gave his thoughts on the situation, while Joleon Lescott accused the reaction of being āfakeā.
āFrom what weāve seen here, this is handbags, I think Iāve never been in a tunnel where itās been like this,ā Ferdinand said.
āIt either goes off, or nothing happens.ā
Lescott added: āThereās no real intent to fight, I wouldnāt even say handbags, its a fake reaction to the result.ā
“We know they sometimes try to make things happen like that,” said John Stones of the stoppage-time melee that led to Felipe’s red card, when speaking to BT Sport.
“I thought we dealt with it really well. I don’t want to dwell on it too much because over two legs I thought we played incredibly against such an experienced team.
“I am so proud of the lads today, how we kept our control, kept our tempers. It is so easy to get drawn into stuff like that. I am so happy to be through. A great night.”
“In the second half, they were better than us and we were lucky we did not concede,” Guardiola told BT Sport. “In the first half, we had our chances. Overall, we are in the semi-finals. It is well deserved.”
Pep refused to be drawn on Atletico’s antics but he did talk about the injuries to De Bruyne and Walker that could hand his side a problem as they look to battle for the Premier League title and the FA Cup.
“We are in big trouble. We cannot forget we played three days ago in a tough game against Liverpool. We have to come here and we have a lot of injuries right now.
“I am not sure what is going to happen in the next weeks but today we are going to celebrate because it is the third time in Manchester City’s history that we are in the semi-finals of the Champions League.”
Asking for his views on the incident, Atleti boss Diego Simeone said: “I didn’t see it. I stayed on the pitch applauding the fans and saying hi to everyone on the pitch. So by the time I went upstairs everyone had gone.”
Manchester City defender John Stones, said the mass brawl at the end of the game is “not nice to talk about” but praised his side’s reaction to Atleti’s actions.
“We know they sometimes try and make things happen like that and I think we dealt with it really well,” said Stones after the match. “It’s not nice to talk about that. I don’t want to dwell on that because over two legs we played incredible against such an experienced team in what they do.
“I’m so proud of the lads of how we controlled our tempers. It’s so easy to get drawn into stuff like that. So happy to be through and a great night.
“We definitely knew it’s not an easy place to come. It’s my first time here and it’s a hostile environment. It was a difficult night all round but how we defended and how we controlled ourselves was incredible.”
Stones also addressed claims that Foden, a victim for both of Felipe’s yellow card offences, was targeted by Atleti’s players, praising his performances over both legs.
“[They started] early doors,” said Stones about Atleti’s treatment of Foden. “Phil was such a threat in both games, especially when he came on in the first time, an instant impact.
“Then in this game, he drove us up the pitch and gained us yards. He was outstanding, he’s feeling it after the game now.”
Player ratings
<bOblak (6); Llorente (7), Savic (5), Felipe (4), Reinildo (7), Renan Lodi (7); Koke (6), Kondogbia (8), Lemar (7); Griezmann (6), Joao Felix (6).
Subs:Ā Carrasco (7), De Paul (6), Correa (7), Suarez (6), Cunha (6).
Man City:Ā Ederson (6); Walker (7), Stones (8), Laporte (8), Cancelo (7); Rodri (6), Gundogan (6), Bernardo (6); Mahrez (6), De Bruyne (6), Foden (7).
Subs:Ā Sterling (6), Ake (7), Fernandinho (6).
Man of the match:Ā Geoffrey Kondogbia</b
SEE MORE: Chelsea and Man City fans ābrawlā in Madrid ahead of Champions League ties
Twitter users reacted as police storm tunnel while Man City and Atletico Madrid scrap at full time…
@Jxydxn___: Why are the spanish police running over to the english team when itās clearly the Spanish team kicking off spitting and throwing things lol
@gallagher_greg: ā”Right through the whole spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men, so they take a goal going in not very well.ā – OK Kenny, just the women that are emotional. I see what you mean.
@roordsevans: But women are the emotional ones? Yeah right…..
@JoshBakerr: Atletico have had a mare š¤£š¤£
@Robert_0222: Love how Vrsaljiko attempts a headbutt at the city players even though he’s nowhere near them š¤£š¤£
@S4fcNi4ll: Of course the police go straight to Man City not one went to the Atletico Madrid
@Gillzzzy36: Atletico are imploding in anger after getting there own medicine š
@john07lawrence: This is just brilliant š¤© we never see this anymore
@PaddyBorger: Disgracing a competition they shouldnāt even be playing in had their ban for financial cheating been upheld.
@Luz64717815: UEFA must take action against these Atletico players
@yunhoIy: need jack to chin him
@Brew3rLewis: Jack Grealish has just repaid his Ā£100 Million transfer fee by coming on to the pitch just to call Savic a cunt in a Brummy accent. Quality stuff
@Mustaine_szn: My love for jack has gone right up
@PieEatinGooner: āHold me backā¦hold me baaaccckkkā
@JameswinterMCFC: if only they put that much effort into trying to play good football
@BananoSilva: Grealish calling Savic a cunt has fully justified the 100M fee. It’s all profit from here on
scenes from the tunnel after savic finds grealish- pic.twitter.com/gLX69QnWhc
ā sourav. (@okaysourav) April 13, 2022
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