Guardiola hits out at United fans after a disturbing moment in the Manchester derby where chants aimed at Phil Foden’s mother came from the home crowd.
The City boss didn’t hold back in calling out the abuse – labelling it as a complete lack of class. During the first half of the goalless draw at Old Trafford – as City attacked the Stretford End – some United fans started chanting abuse involving Foden’s mum. And Pep wasn’t having any of it.
When asked about it after the game – Guardiola said – It was a lack of class. But it’s not United – it’s the people. We are so exposed in football – managers – owners – and football players especially. Honestly – I don’t understand the mind of people involving the mum of Phil. It’s a lack of integrity – class – and they should be ashamed.
It’s not just about football rivalry here – it’s about basic human decency. City were reportedly shocked and disgusted not only by the nature of the chant but also by how many people were involved. Meanwhile – Manchester United responded saying they strongly condemn all abusive chants directed at any player. A statement that probably won’t mean much unless they actually take action moving forward.
This derby didn’t just make headlines for the off-field drama though. On the pitch – it ended in a pretty dull 0-0 draw – and now City sit fifth in the table with just 52 points – one behind Chelsea. With only seven games left – that’s not exactly where they wanted to be. Guardiola addressed that too – saying he would love to have 10 or 12 more points – but it is what it is. Old Trafford is always tough. We fought and gave everything – but should have attacked with more fluidity.
He made it clear that the focus is now on recovery and preparing for the final stretch of the season – including crucial fixtures against Crystal Palace – Everton – Aston Villa – and an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. Forget next season for now – Pep is just focused on grinding out results with what’s left.
As for United – they’re stuck down in 13th place – and Ruben Amorim is feeling the heat. When asked how tough it’ll be to turn the team around – he admitted it’s not going to be quick. Amorim said he’s in a rush because everyone at the club is suffering with all the changes – and they need to show improvement fast. He acknowledged City’s ball-dominant style is still elite and said playing that way takes time. Even though United had some bright spells – they weren’t close to dominating this one.
After the final whistle – a small group of United fans from the 1958 movement stayed behind for a sit-in protest against the Glazer family’s ownership. Just a couple hundred people turned up for it – but the tension around the club’s leadership clearly isn’t going anywhere soon.
Back to Guardiola – his anger wasn’t just about the draw or dropped points – it was about drawing a line when fan behavior crosses into personal territory. The game might be a rivalry – but dragging families into it is just low. Pep made that crystal clear – and honestly – he’s right.
It’s one thing to have banter and passion in a derby – that’s football. But personal abuse – especially involving someone’s family – just crosses the line. Guardiola hitting out at United fans for this shows that football still has people willing to speak up when things get out of hand. Hopefully – the clubs and the league take this seriously and work on keeping things passionate but respectful.
What’s your take on the Manchester derby drama? Did Guardiola do the right thing by calling out the abuse or should clubs do more to shut this stuff down? Hit the comments and let us know how you feel.
Alex Carter is an experienced sports journalist with over a decade of covering international and domestic sports events. From the roar of football stadiums to the high-octane energy of F1 tracks, Alex delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive interviews with sports icons. His passion for sports extends to coaching local youth teams on weekends.
Source:https://themusicessentials.com/sports/manchester-city-manager-guardiola-criticizes-united-supporters-over-foden-abuse/