Pep Guardiola has hit out at a section of Manchester United fans singing vulgar chants about Phil Foden’s mum, Claire Rowlands.
The Man City boss slammed the lack of class shown from some supporters inside Old Trafford during the 0-0 draw on Sunday.
The Premier League champions played out a drab goalless stalemate at the home of their neighbourhood rivals.
Foden was among the many stars to struggle, having been subjected to several derogatory chants about his mum throughout the match.
Those jeers from certain United fans continued when he was hauled off by Guardiola before the hour mark.
In footage that has since circulated on social media, some supporters twisted the lyrics to the Etihad chant, ‘Phil Foden, he’s one of our own,’ to reference the star’s mother alongside a vulgar synonym for a promiscuous woman.
The 24-year-old offered no reaction to the derogatory song, but his manager defended his talisman in his post-match press conference.
Guardiola says United fans who targeted Stockport-born and City academy graduate Foden with the vile taunts should be ‘ashamed.’
“Lack of class – but it’s not United, it’s the people,” he said.
“We are so exposed, people who are on the screen in world football – managers, owners, and football players especially.
“It is honestly I don’t understand in the mind of the people involving the mum of Phil, being involved in that.
“It’s a lack of integrity, class, and they should be ashamed, but it is what it is; it’s happening everywhere, I would say, not just in the UK.
Foden, who masterminded a 3-1 comeback win in the Manchester derby last season, has struggled to find his best form all season.
Guardiola rejected the suggestion that Foden is low on confidence and stressed the playmaker will regain his true self.
“When the team is not playing at the level that we had, it looks like everyone is not what they were,” he added.
“I see the passion and smile on his face every day in training and that is what I want.
“You see the numbers of players who have been four, five, six years. This year we drop and it’s all of them – that’s why we are struggling to win games but the quality is there.
“He won the Premier League in the last games [last year], in the game against West Ham with two goals. His impact was incredible and he will be back.
“He fought, he had chances, he shot in the first half and chances that normally the ball is in the net. It happens but now is not to judge.
“We are where we are, we knew it.
“FA Cup semi-finals, eight games left and everyone is going to give everything and learning for the guys who played every single game, how they impacted, and this is what they’re going to do.”
The result means City end the weekend fifth in the Premier League table and in serious danger of not qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
City missed the opportunity to overtake Chelsea, who could only manage a goalless draw at Brentford earlier on Sunday.
As for United, they are 13th in the table.
