Manchester City star Phil Foden has posted a three-word message after being subjected to chants about his mum during Sunday’s derby against Manchester United. A section of United fans were heard singing a vile chant about the England star in the first half of what proved to be a drab 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.
Post-match, City boss Pep Guardiola said that those involved should be ‘ashamed’. “Lack of class,” Guardiola told a news conference. “But it’s not United, it’s the people, you know?
“We are so exposed, people who are on the screen in world football – managers, owners, and football players especially. Honestly, I don’t understand the mind of the people involving the mum of Phil. It’s a lack of integrity, class, and they should be ashamed.”
Foden, 24, has now posted on social media for the first time since the incident, having been jeered by United fans when he was brought off for Jeremy Doku in the 57th minute. “We keep going,” the England international said on Instagram.
By Foden and his team-mates’ lofty standards, this season has been a down year for many. The 24-year-old has scored 10 goals and registered six assists in 40 appearances amid City’s struggles.
Questions have been raised over his place in the England team, having not played the full 90 minutes in either of last month’s World Cup qualifying matches. After Foden scored twice in the 6-0 win at Ipswich in January, Guardiola alluded to the playmaker dealing with ‘problems’.
“We spoke many times the last month, and he was a completely different boy to how he arrived at the beginning of the season,” the City manager explained.
“He had a few problems, but they are human beings and sometimes when you have a setback and that is normal. But we are really pleased that he is happy again and enjoying playing, and that is really good for all of us.”
As for Sunday’s lifeless derby, Guardiola acknowledged that his players weren’t good enough to beat a resilient United, who themselves offered little attacking threat. “The players know it. There’s a process when the ball is on one side, they have to be in a position,” he lamented.
“Today was not good. … For many many years I have played against 5-4-1 where opponents defend so deep. We should be in the same positions [as when we’ve defeated 5-4-1 formations] but we were not good enough to punish them or hurt them a little bit more than what happened.”
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