Update: ‘Doesn’t feel good’ – How Phil Foden and Jack Grealish reacted after Manchester derby incidents News

Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were both on the end of a difficult afternoon at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby

Pep Guardiola says that Phil Foden and Jack Grealish have moved on from being subjected to unacceptable treatment during the Manchester derby. Foden started for Manchester City and Grealish came off the bench, but both made headlines for non-football issues that they could do nothing about.

Guardiola was furious after the game at chanting that had come from the Stretford End towards Foden aimed at his mother, accusing the supporters of a ‘lack of class’. And a 20-year-old man has been charged with assault after allegedly slapping Grealish as he made his way off the pitch.

“It doesn’t feel good but move forward,” said Guardiola. “It happens everywhere. It’s a crazy world, not just in sport.

“Nobody is away from that. it’s not about United. Of course, it’s beyond that person but it’s not a problem about a specific club or department in world football, it happens everywhere.”

That will rumble on in the background but the football continues, with City taking on Crystal Palace on Saturday looking to find a spark for the run-in that will guide them back into the top five that will guarantee a Champions League place for next season.

The draw at Old Trafford saw them slip to sixth once Newcastle beat Leicester the following night, and the north east club still have a game in hand.

City can strike first this weekend with the Saturday lunchtime game against Crystal Palace and move up to fourth with a victory, but any more dropped points will leave them vulnerable to those teams around them.

The worst-cast scenario could see City finish the weekend in seventh if Aston Villa beat Southampton.

As much as Guardiola is happier that the top-four requirement has become a top-five after Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid confirmed an extra Champions League spot for English teams next season, he is aware of the perils of the current situation.

“It’s better to have five teams instead of four with the situation we have but there are seven or eight contenders,” he said. “We don’t have the squad all season.

“We have three central defenders out who played in the final of the Champions League. We have a striker out.”

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