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Fans believe Pep Guardiola aimed 'dig' at two Manchester United stars ahead of Champions League final

Fans believe Pep Guardiola aimed 'dig' at two Manchester United stars ahead of Champions League final

Fans have had their say.

Fans believe that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola appeared to aim a dig at Manchester United pair David de Gea and Marcus Rashford ahead of the Champions League final.

City take on Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul tonight looking to lift the Champions League for the first time in their history.

For Guardiola, success tonight would allow him to lift his third Champions League crown, and his first since winning the final with Barcelona in 2011.

It would also secure the traditional treble for City - Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League - a feat first achieved by United in 1999.

It was United that Guardiola's side had to beat in the FA Cup final earlier this month to secure the double. They won 2-1 at Wembley thanks to a brace from Ilkay Gundogan.

Fans react to Guardiola's Man Utd comments

Speaking to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in an interview for CBS Sports, Guardiola discussed the differing styles of Inter and United ahead of the final.

He focused on the playstyle of Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana, before comparing the hold-up play of Inter's forwards to Rashford.

He said: "It is difficult when you have that keeper [like Onana] to make a high press properly, because you cannot press the goalkeeper.

"The link to Lautaro [Martinez], [Romelu] Lukaku, Edin Dzeko, they are a master to keep the ball.

"With United, for example, the long ball with Rashford and the other one, they don't keep it. These guys [Inter], they keep it, and after they link it, they run."


Guardiola's comments received plenty of reaction from fans of United and other clubs, with some believing his Onana analysis was a direct comparison with De Gea.

One claimed, accompanied by laughing emojis: "He pretty much said Rashford can't hold the ball up."

Another agreed with Guardiola's comments, stating: "It's a fair assessment tbh."

A third wrote: "Pep thinks Inter are better than Utd and I don't blame him."

A fourth supporter added: "There's no way Erik ten Hag is watching this and thinking we're all good."

And a fifth fan said: "Rashford and De Gea catching strays."

Another fan, meanwhile, defended Rashford: "He's a runner. He prefers the wing. It's been common knowledge since his debut season that he doesn't like playing with his back to goal. His game is very, very different to Dzeko."

Featured Image Credit: CBS Sports

Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Marcus Rashford, Fan Reactions