Manchester United striker Robin van Persie was embroiled in a heated tunnel bust-up with defender Ryan Shawcross during the clash against Stoke City at Old Trafford on Saturday, according to the Express. The feuding duo reportedly clashed on the pitch and off it when Shawcross appeared to grab Van Persie by the neck at a corner. The pair then continued the fracas at half time as Shawcross barged into the Dutchman as he was heading down the tunnel at the interval, and a verbal exchange ensued. Referee Lee Mason stepped in and visited the Stoke dressing room to caution Shawcross, yet the exchanges continued at the final whistle and again outside the dressing rooms. Stoke boss Mark Hughes said of the incidents:
"Apparently Van Persie flicked his leg and it was a little bit close to Ryans face I think thats what caused it. Then Ryan pushed him in the tunnel. It was something and nothing. We didnt want to get involved in anything like that because obviously that was Uniteds frustration coming out because they had been second best in the first half.
United were two-one down at the time of the hostilities between the striker and the Stoke captain, after Peter Crouch and Marko Arnautovic scored either side of Van Persie's equaliser. The defending champions got back into the game with just over ten minutes remaining however thanks to a glancing Wayne Rooney header before substitute Javier Hernandez sealed a 3-2 win. After the game, Van Persie dismissed rumours that he and manager David Moyes have fallen out and that he doesn't get along with Rooney, saying:
Im really happy here and really happy with the manager and staff. Waynes a great player and we want to play together.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
