Ander Herrera has denied claims that he intentionally spat on the Manchester City badge.
Herrera was pictured spitting on the City badge as he left the Etihad pitch after Saturday’s dramatic derby match.
“It is disrespectful and immature to do that,” a City source told the Times.
As the Manchester United midfielder made his way down the tunnel, he clearly spat into the centre of the badge but he has insisted that it was completely coincidental following complaints from several City supporters.
“Ander has seen the footage of the incident and is mortified at any suggestion that his actions were deliberate,” a United spokesperson said.
“It was entirely accidental and there was no intent whatsoever.”
Herrera started in midfield for the game, which was turned on its head at half-time thanks to a familiar team talk from manager Jose Mourinho.
Ander Herrera spitting on the Man City badge as he walks off the pitch😂
Love him ❤️https://t.co/y9zkpBUfMA— Man Utd Channel (@ManUtdChannel) April 8, 2018
City could have been 5-0 up at the break but settled for a 2-0 advantage, only for the visitors to come out all guns blazing in the second half and score three unanswered goals to delay City’s title party.
Tempers flared in the dying moments of the game, when substitute Gabriel Jesus allowed his frustrations to get the better of him on a couple of occasions.
But despite the fiery rivalry between City and United, Herrera is adamant that he’s simply not the kind of player who would spit on another team’s badge.
