Pep Guardiola shrugs off Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri claiming he doesn’t see City fans in Manchester

The Manchester derby weekend is here!


Pep Guardiola shrugs off Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri claiming he doesn’t see City fans in Manchester

Facundo Pellistri with girlfriend & Pep Guardiola. (Source: Facundo Pellistri's Instagram/ Mirror)

Ahead of the first derby of the season on Sunday, Manchester United player Facundo Pellistri is trying to break into United’s first team by taking jibes at their local rivals and Treble winners Manchester City.

He was recently heard saying:

Manchester is all about United. You don't see City shirts or flags.

Later, the player also mentioned going to Manchester with his girlfriend to spot City jerseys but had a hard time finding any.

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This unsurprisingly upset the legendary manager, Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard enjoys taunting Manchester United, making them seem like a historical club since his arrival. The red side of Manchester has been living quite insecurely due to the ‘noisy neighbors’, especially after a humiliating 6-3 defeat at the Etihad last season. Pep, known for his sharp wit, responded to the Uruguayan with sarcasm and clever words. He said:

I will speak with the department and ask what happened. It's ok. If this guy and his girlfriend believe that, it's fine.

He diplomatically shrugs off not giving any further importance. As fans edge closer to the derby, the hype is increasing around the fixture with Erling Haaland earlier classifying United as the club he hates the most, he will surely be looking to bag another hat trick.

Looking back at the last Manchester derby

The Manchester derby used to be highly anticipated worldwide, but it’s become less competitive. The Cityzens‘ dominance in contrast to the Red Devils’ mismanagement as well as the player issues has played a role. For instance, last season, United suffered a humiliating 6-3 defeat to the current European champions in a match at the Etihad Stadium.

Erling Haaland celebrating after scoring a hattrick against Manchester United in last season's derby
Erling Haaland celebrating after scoring a hattrick against Manchester United in last season’s derby (via Manchester Evening News)

Both boyhood City fans in Erling Haaland and Phil Foden bagged hattricks over their neighbors. Only Anthony Martial and Antony got compensatory goal. The October fixture set the tone for a dominant season to come for the striker and Pep Guardiola’s team who went on to win a historic treble while Manchester United had to be content with the Carabao Cup.

They had a shot to halt City’s treble dream in the FA Cup final, but it only took 13 seconds for City’s captain, Ilkay Gundogan, to crush their hopes with an amazing goal against David de Gea. This moment reflected City’s dominance over United in recent years, with City fans celebrating while United fans left matches early. Hopefully, a more competitive outing can be expected from a neutral’s perspective.

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