Phil Foden has been left out of the Manchester City squad for their clash against Crystal Palace, less than a week after Manchester United fans taunted him with vile chants about his mother.
Foden, 24, came under fire during a limp 0-0 stalemate in the Manchester derby last week, as sections of Old Trafford’s home support labelled his mother, Claire Rowlands, 44, a ‘s**g’ while he was playing.
In the aftermath of the draw, a furious Guardiola leapt to the defence of his star man, who has endured a difficult season for City.
‘It’s a lack of class,’ said Guardiola. ‘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.’
And, for Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League clash against Palace, Foden was nowhere to be seen in City’s squad as teams were announced 75 minutes ahead of kick off.
Phil Foden has been left out of the Manchester City squad, less than a week after Manchester United fans taunted him with vile chants about his mother
Speaking on Friday, Guardiola had provided an update on Foden and Grealish, who was slapped in the face by a United fan following the game.
‘He doesn’t feel good but we move forward,’ he said when asked about the pair.
‘It’s a crazy world. Nobody is away from that. It’s not about United, it’s not a problem of a specific club or department in world football. It’s beyond that person. It happens everywhere.’
Meanwhile, Foden’s instant reaction to the chants was revealed in footage circulating on Monday.
In a video shared to social media platform TikTok on Sunday, Foden can be seen ironically clapping the supporters and giving them a thumbs up while inside Manchester United’s penalty area, before defiantly gesturing for them to continue.
Foden later took to Instagram with a three-word message – ‘we keep going’ – after the dull derby ended 0-0.
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