Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has strongly criticized Manchester United fans for directing inappropriate chants at Phil Foden during Sunday’s goalless derby at Old Trafford. The Spanish coach expressed his disappointment at the behavior, which included vulgar references to the England international’s mother.
“The chants to him? Lack of class,” Guardiola stated firmly. “Honestly, I don’t understand the mind of the people, involving the mum from Phil. It’s a lack of integrity, class – and they should be ashamed.”
The match itself was a subdued affair, with neither team able to break the deadlock in what Gary Neville described as playing out “like a friendly.” City missed an opportunity to return to the Premier League’s top four, while United remain in 13th position.
United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the criticism but provided context for the underwhelming spectacle: “We are doing the worst season in history. Manchester City won everything in the past but this season are struggling, so we are not in the best moments to give the best spectacle.”
The Portuguese coach also emphasized the significant rebuilding process ahead at Old Trafford: “To be really dominant against any opponent is going to take a lot of time. In this way of playing, City are maybe the best team in the world and they have been doing it for a while.”
This incident highlights growing concerns about fan behavior at football matches, with players increasingly subjected to personal abuse. The Football Association has been working to address such issues through various initiatives, though clearly challenges remain.
For City, the result continues their inconsistent form this season as they struggle to recapture the dominance that saw them win five of the last six Premier League titles. United, meanwhile, face a lengthy journey back to competitiveness under Amorim’s guidance, with patience likely required from their supporters.
