Phil Foden couldn’t help but make a gesture to the Man Utd fans booing him as he walked off Old Trafford.
Phil Foden took a cheeky swipe at some Manchester United fans who were jeering him as he left Old Trafford after Manchester City’s 1-0 win in a heated derby.
It was quite a day for the Stockport-born midfielder—he was sent off just 23 minutes into the game after reacting to Bruno Fernandes. Foden had fallen on the ball after a challenge from Fernandes, who then made contact with him as he tried to clear the ball.
Fernandes seemed to hit the bottom of Foden’s back, and while on the ground, a frustrated Foden kicked out at Fernandes with both feet. Shortly after, Fernandes went down holding his stomach, and the referee, Michael Oliver, showed Foden a straight red card.
Foden became the first City player to be sent off in this derby since 2006, but that didn’t ruin his mood as City managed to take all three points from Old Trafford.
After the final whistle, some United fans gave Foden a tough time as he headed to the team bus. As you can see in the video below, the 26-year-old cheekily held up his fingers to show the “1-0” score for about 10 seconds before walking off.
About the red card, City’s head coach Enzo Maresca said he thought it was the right call.
“Our game plan changed after the red card,” Maresca said. “The team showed great spirit, effort, and unity. Honestly, I think the red card was fair for Phil Foden—but the same could be said for Bruno Fernandes on the same play.”
He added, “We didn’t leave any gaps for counter-attacks. This match means a lot to everyone—fans, club, and manager—but right now, I’m just focused on the team and celebrating these three important points.”