Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho calls for Chelsea to show leniency to Marco Ianni

Ianni was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association on Monday

Jose Mourinho has called for Chelsea to be lenient with Marco Ianni, the assistant coach who sparked a touchline brawl during the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Manchester United manager was incensed when Ianni goaded him by celebrating Ross Barkley’s 96th-minute leveller directly in front of him.

Mourinho’s attempt to confront Ianni resulted in a brief pushing and shoving contest between players and staff from both clubs.

Ianni was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association on Monday, while Mourinho and the two clubs in question were reminded of their responsibilities by the governing body.

Sarri, meanwhile, promised to deal with the matter internally on Saturday, having brought Ianni to apologise to Mourinho after the final whistle.

Phil Neville, the England women’s manager and former United player, has called for Ianni to be sacked for his conduct, accusing the 32-year-old coach of showing “no class” and “no humility”.

Mourinho believes such a punishment would be too harsh, however, and called on Chelsea to show clemency.

“I want to thank Sarri for his honesty, I want to thank Chelsea for its honesty, too. But I’m not happy that is going too far with the young boy,” Mourinho said.

“I don’t think he deserves more than what he got. He apologised to me, I accept his apologies. I think he deserves a second chance, I don’t think he deserves to be sacked.

“I don’t think he deserves anything more than the fact his club was strong with him and he went through a situation where in the end he recognises he was wrong.

“So I hope everybody does the same as I did, which is not to disturb a career of a young guy, which is probably a great guy, who is probably a coach of great potential, and I’m not happy with it more than that.

“With me it is end of story in the minute he apologised to me. But I would really like the boy not to go through more than that. Let him work. Everybody makes mistakes. I made lots of mistakes. I hope they let the kid go on.”​