Troy Deeney gave an interesting take when asked what he thinks of Phil Foden receiving abuse during the Manchester derby.
Foden, 24, was subjected to vile chants about his mother from a minority of Manchester United supporters during the 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
After the match, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was quick to condemn the insulting chants, he said: “Lack of class. But it’s not United, it’s the people, you know? We are so exposed in 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…”
Foden has not yet directly addressed the issue, and it is unclear if will do. But on Monday morning, former Premier League forward Troy Deeney gave his take on the matter, and it was unexpected.
“[It is] part of the game, unfortunately,” Deeney said on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“It is what it is, I’ve heard people say things about my kids, wife… you name it.
“Look, I take Pep’s point – it is a reflection on society…. everyone’s relatively glass houses they like to look out and point and say, ‘you’re rubbish, this and that’.
Phil Foden in action during the Manchester derby (Credit:Getty)
“But I also think as well, it’s a derby, people are emotional… you talk about someone’s mum so you never want it to be that.”
“It’s just part of football,” Deeney added.
“This, in my opinion, is a bigger story than it needs to be.”
“It’s been made a bigger story because Pep’s brought it to everyone’s attention,” the former Watford captain explained.
“Watching the game, I didn’t hear it. [On] Match of the day we didn’t do anything on it, unfortunately, it’s the ugly side of this football game.
“There’s an old saying many many years ago that Gianfranco Zola told me and it was ‘We’re paid to have no feelings’.”
The former footballer was then asked how he would respond to such a situation before explaining that it would motivate him to score a goal.
