Pep Guardiola says Manchester United fans should be ‘ashamed’ after ‘sick’ chant

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Pep Guardiola says Man United fans should be ashamed of Phil Foden mum chant

Man City manager Pep Guardiola has condemned the Man United fans who began what has been described as a ‘sick’ chant during this weekend’s Manchester derby.

It was a forgettable outing for both sides of the city after a game where a lack of quality in the final third ultimately led to a bore draw at Old Trafford.

The result may not have been how Kevin De Bruyne would have wanted his final derby day to pan out, but it ended up being an even more disappointing day for Phil Foden after he was directly targeted with a chant about his mother.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, having already made a point of consoling him on the pitch after the full-time whistle, Guardiola said it displayed “a lack of class” from the home support.

Although the Catalan coach added the caveat that “it’s not United, it’s the people [instead]” and does happen all over the world, he still questioned the need to draw family members into chanting.

Described by many online as abuse, he went on to state that those involved “should be ashamed” and simply showed a lapse in “integrity” from those who continued well into the second half.

Foden himself could be seen reacting to the chants during the game, giving the crowd a sarcastic thumbs up and then swinging his arm upwards as if to ask for them to keep it up.

It would have no doubt stirred plenty of motivation in the 24-year-old Stopfordian, but he was ultimately subbed off just before the hour mark to a further chorus of jeers and looked to be somewhat limping down the tunnel after all was said and done – again, with the chants about his mum continuing.

Striker Troy Deeney told talkSPORT that it is merely “part of the game, unfortunately”, and United legend Gary Neville still criticised both sides for being too friendly both before and after what is supposed to be a fierce rivalry.

Is he right?

Though an arm around the shoulder from Pep in the immediate aftermath served as a touching gesture and consolation for Foden following a difficult evening, the England international has so far refused to comment on the treatment from the opposition supporters afterwards.

If anything, his subsequent post on social media was a standard but defiant one, simply writing: “We keep going.”

Despite struggling to hit the same heights he did last season and has shown in spells over recent years, former City defender Micah Richards still believes we’ll see a “better” Phil Foden when team talisman De Bruyne leaves at the end of the season.

You can watch the highlights from the game down below.

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Featured Images — BeanymanSports/Sky Sports (screenshots via YouTube)