Strong words from the Manchester City boss, here.
Pep Guardiola has spoken out strongly against football fans at Wembley Stadium, this afternoon, that booed during a moment of silence intended to pay tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster.
Ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash between both sides, players from City and Liverpool stood in the centre of the pitch for the tribute to those 97 football fans that lost their life at Hillsborough, back in 1990.
However, the silence was disrupted by loud booing and whistling, leading to match referee Michael Oliver ending the tribute slightly earlier than planned. City would, later in the game, issue an apology from the club on the matter.
Following the game, which Liverpool won 3-2, both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were asked about the booing by ITV.
“That’s, of course, not nice and clearly not nice, but I have heard already than Man City have put out a statement, and we’re fine with that… there are moments in football where all rivalries should be put to one side. This is one of these moments, but you cannot change it.”
Guardiola, for his part, was unequivocal in his comments about the incident, He declared:
“The club has made a statement, which we support completely.
“These people don’t represent who we are; who we want to be.
“Of course, we are alongside Liverpool for this tragedy, suffered years ago. The minute’s silence should be done but, again, they don’t represent who we are.”
https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1515391297091256320
Victory for Liverpool keeps them on course for an unprecedented quadruple but, following the game, Virgil Van Dijk insisted such talk is only for the media.
Liverpool already have the League Cup in the bag, for this season, and are challenging City for the league title, in the Champions League semis and now the FA Cup final.
