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Pep Guardiola made it clear that the two banned supporters who were heard chanting offensive remarks after the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton do not represent Manchester City.
Videos surfaced on social media of two individuals, both under the age of 18, singing about Charlton during City’s game against Brighton last weekend, shortly after the news of the Manchester United legend’s passing was made known to the public.
The City team has taken immediate action by condemning the offensive chants. This occurred before the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, where United will observe a minute of silence before the game in honor of Charlton.
Guardiola is optimistic that the visiting supporters will behave with respect, as he denounced the actions of the two fans who have been barred from attending both home and away matches for City.
Guardiola expressed that they are not represented by those who consume alcohol, as it can lead to negative behavior. He mentioned that Mike Summerbee, a City ambassador, went to Old Trafford to sign the condolence book for Charlton, and he is a true representation of the team.
“We hold Manchester United in high regard, especially their iconic figure Sir Bobby Charlton. We offer our condolences to Manchester United and the English football community.”
This weekend marks the first encounter between the two rivals since the previous season’s FA Cup final. In that game, Ilkay Gundogan scored twice to secure a 2-1 victory for City, earning them their second trophy on their way to achieving a treble.
After just nine games in the Premier League, this derby may not hold as much significance. However, it is a match that former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager Guardiola has always relished.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City (Zac Goodwin/PA)
“It was always a unique experience for me when I was playing for Barcelona and Bayern Munich and had the opportunity to travel to England and face United at Old Trafford,” he remarked. “It holds a special significance, both for myself and our fans.”
“The two clubs have a strong and friendly rivalry. Throughout my eight years here, there have been no major conflicts between them. The FA Cup final was particularly significant as we were determined to secure victory and complete the treble.”
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“This situation is not comparable to an FA Cup final or the final games of the season where a victory or defeat can determine the outcome of winning the Premier League.”
Only nine games have been played so far, leaving 87 points still up for grabs. We must stay focused and defeat them in this upcoming game.
The team, without defender Manuel Akanji due to suspension, won against Brighton last week to recover from back-to-back losses against Wolves and Arsenal in the Premier League before the international break.
Currently, they are in second place, trailing Tottenham. However, United, who placed third last season, have had a tumultuous start to their season with four losses in their first nine matches.
Although City currently has a six-point and six-place lead over United, Guardiola remains cautious after Ten Hag’s team took the win in last year’s similar match.
“United have always had that feeling – it doesn’t matter who the manager is – they are a tough, tough opponent,” Guardiola said.
“The qualities of the individuals they have, the stadium, the character they have, the momentum. They can score goals, we know the quality they have. Always that has been and always it will be.”
Source: independent.co.uk
