Manchester City hit back at Porto over criticism of players after Champions League draw
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ByEurosport
Updated 02/12/2020 at 18:44 GMT
Manchester City have criticised Porto for their "ill-judged" and "targeted" criticism of players following Tuesday's 0-0 Champions League draw. Porto criticised City players Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho and said City "should even be grateful for the luck they had". Both teams qualified for the last 16 with the result.
Oleksandr Zinchenko of Manchester City is challenged by Jesus Corona of Porto during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between FC Porto and Manchester City at Estadio do Dragao on December 01, 2020 in Porto, Portugal. Sporting stadiums around
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester City have hit back at Porto after the Portuguese club were highly critical of several City players following Tuesday's Champions League draw.
The result meant both sides advanced to the knockout phase of Europe's elite club competition, but Porto were not happy with their opponents.
"The coach and players should even be grateful for the luck they had with refereeing again," Porto said in a newsletter on their website.
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"After the scandals of the game in England, this time a penalty was missed for Ederson's more than obvious foul on Otavio."
Porto also criticised City players Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho.
The newsletter queried why a Portuguese broadcaster offered "a shirt to an opponent who is known internationally for having been convicted of racism", taken to mean Silva.
Regarding Fernandinho, it said: "There should have been a red card given to Fernandinho, who despite being 35 is a clear example that in football money counts a lot, but it doesn't buy class."
"This is not the first time that Porto have reacted badly in circumstances like this," a City spokesman said.
"On this occasion, it is the ill-judged and targeted criticism of some of our individual players and indeed our manager, which we wholly reject.
"In 2012, the last season we encountered them, it was the denial by the club of clear racist behaviour of their fans for which they were investigated and fined. In this context, this latest outburst it almost as surprising as it is disappointing."
City won the first Group C game against Porto 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. They lead the standings going into the last round of matches with 13 points and Porto are second on 10.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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