Pep Guardiola doesn’t accept Gary Neville’s implied criticism of Manchester City.
Neville suggested on Twitter that Guardiola’s club don’t give young players a chance in the first-team, unlike Neville’s former team Manchester United.
The comment was made following the Manchester derby pre-season game in the United States. Phil Foden, a 17-year-old midfielder from Stockport, impressed for City, catching the eye of spectators despite the galaxy of talent on the field.
Great this. Serious talent @PhilFoden let's just hope he's given a sustained opportunity. Talent demands it https://t.co/rbk4zTRmNv
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) July 23, 2017
Neville urged people not to get too excited, as City have plenty of talented young players in their academy, but most find it difficult to get regular playing time in the first-team.
The Sky Sports pundit said Foden is “at the wrong Manchester club for getting a sustained opportunity,” implying that the midfielder would have a better chance of cementing a first-team spot at Old Trafford.
He's at the wrong Manchester club for getting a sustained opportunity. City have a lot of great kids. They should be playing… https://t.co/KgN9xUHclY
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) July 23, 2017
Neville’s comments were put to Guardiola on Wednesday, and the City manager dismissed them, saying:
“Which is the right club? It’s a question to Gary Neville. My history is there. I’m not going to put young players in the squad because they are young. They will be in the squad because they have quality. I don’t have problems with that.”
Guardiola went on to talk up Foden as a player, before delivering a cutting line to Neville, referring to him as a journalist, rather than a former United defender and Valencia manager.
“Phil Foden is going to play in the next games. He has quality to play in that team. I’m so happy to have him. He’s a Mancunian, a City fan, a humble guy. He’s a fighter. He looks skinny but he’s a strong guy.
“I thought even the journalist in the summertime were on holidays but I realise he [Neville] is not.”
