Pep Guardiola explains Phil Foden absence as family break silence on 'disgusting' abuse

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed Phil Foden's absence against Crystal Palace was injury-related. Foden had been subjected to vile chants about his mother Claire during last weekend's Manchester Derby, but that had nothing to do with the England star sitting out the Saturday lunchtime game.

Foden was withdrawn shortly before the hour mark against Manchester United last time out, and lost his race against time to be fit to face Palace. "Foden suffered an injury at Old Trafford and he hasn't recovered well," Guardiola told TNT Sports before kick-off.

The City boss had called out those responsible for the chants, both immediately after the derby and then in his pre-match build-up. Foden's paternal grandmother Mary Keates has now spoken up about the behaviour, calling it out as "disgusting".

"It really upset me and the whole of the family, it’s disgusting," Keates told The Mail. "It really hurt to hear what was being shouted by the fans about Claire.

"These people need to have a good look at themselves. Claire is a wonderful woman and mother. I don’t want to say too much because it makes me so angry and makes me feel sick."

The chants towards Foden weren't the only flashpoint in the derby. A man was charged over an alleged slap on City substitute Jack Grealish as he left the pitch, and Guardiola addressed the matter in his pre-match press conference.

"It's a crazy world. Nobody is away from that," Guardiola said. "It's not about United, it's not a problem of a specific club or department in world football. It's beyond that person. It happens everywhere."

With Foden missing, and Erling Haaland also injured, City handed James McAtee a first Premier League start for the club on Saturday. The 22-year-old was joined by Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in a three-man set-up behind starting striker Omar Marmoush, with Bernardo Silva starting on the bench.

City, who started the game in sixth place, fell 2-0 behind inside the opening half hour but were level before half-time. Ebere Eze opened the scoring for Oliver Glasner's Palace, with Chris Richards heading home the second, and another Eze goal was ruled out after a tight offside call before De Bruyne's free-kick halved the deficit and Marmoush made it 2-2.

Guardiola's side are battling it out with Chelsea and Newcastle United for Champions League qualification, with the top five Premier League teams earning a spot in next season's competition. Fourth place Chelsea and fifth place Newcastle aren't in action until Sunday, when they take on Ipswich Town and Manchester United respectively.

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