Pep Guardiola has condemned Man Utd fans for showing a “lack of class” after they directed cruel chants at Man City’s Phil Foden during the derby stalemate.
The derogatory comments, which targeted Foden’s mother, drew strong criticism from the City manager, who expressed disbelief at the behavior.
Foden, 24, had a tough outing in the derby and was substituted in the second half by Guardiola after a lackluster performance. The England midfielder, who grew up a City fan in nearby Stockport, was one of only two local players on the pitch, alongside fellow youth product Nico O’Reilly. Despite his roots and allegiance to City, Foden was subjected to hostile chants from the United supporters, to which he responded with a calm thumbs-up gesture.
Guardiola, clearly upset by the situation, slammed the actions of the fans: “It’s a lack of class,” he said. “But it’s not just Manchester United—it’s the people, in general. We live in a world where everyone, especially managers and footballers, are under constant scrutiny. Honestly, I can’t understand why anyone would bring someone’s family into it, especially the mother. It’s a lack of integrity and class. They should be ashamed.”
The incident casts a shadow over what was otherwise a goalless draw that left City in fifth place in the Premier League, clinging to the final Champions League spot. With just a one-point lead over Aston Villa, who will face City’s rivals, United, on April 22, and Newcastle closing in with games in hand, Guardiola’s side faces intense pressure to hold onto their top-five position.
Despite the tension surrounding City’s Champions League qualification, Guardiola remained calm and focused on the task ahead. When asked about the club’s prospects of finishing in the top five, he shrugged off the concern. “Nothing,” he said. “All that matters is our next game against Crystal Palace. We will focus on preparing for the upcoming matches. I’ve seen some good things, but we need to make sure we achieve our goal of qualifying for the Champions League. Then we’ll think about next season.”
Guardiola’s response reflects his usual single-minded focus on the present, but with the weight of potential Champions League exclusion looming, Manchester City’s next few weeks could be critical in securing their future in Europe’s elite competition.
