UTD Podcast: Herrera discusses Man City 'spitting' incident
Former Red Ander Herrera is the latest guest on the UTD Podcast.
The Spaniard’s podcast, in which he discusses his Old Trafford career with co-hosts Helen Evans and Sam Homewood, is available now to watch and listen to on ManUtd.com and in the United App.
It certainly isn’t one to be missed, with Ander bearing all, against the stunning backdrop of Athletic Club’s San Mames Stadium.
Our former midfielder addresses playing in Manchester for Athletic Club in 2012, the managers he played under at the Theatre of Dreams, and also his painful departure in 2019.
Ander Herrera – “I have United in my heart”
podcastUTD Podcast co-hosts Helen Evans and Sam Homewood travelled to Bilbao, Spain, to catch up with Ander Herrera, whose honesty and passion led to one of our best-ever episodes. The former Reds midfielder speaks fondly about his childhood as the son of a professional footballer and sporting director, before recounting his first spell as an Athletic Club player – which included their famous Europa League victories over Sir Alex Ferguson’s United in 2011/12. Herrera describes his 2014 transfer to Old Trafford in amazing detail and dissects his five popular seasons as a Red, offering amazing observations of former managers Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer along the way. Then comes the touching moment he breaks down in tears, when discussing his difficult decision to leave the club for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. After three seasons in France, Ander is back in the Basque country with his beloved Athletic Club and their magnificent San Mames Stadium is the backdrop for our unmissable conversation. Remember, as well as listening, you can watch it in full by tapping the camera button on your podcast screen. Enjoy!
During his time at the club, Ander built up a reputation of being a player who very much wore his heart on his sleeve. This was never more apparent than when the Reds were trailing 2-0 at half-time in a decisive Manchester derby in 2018. City only needed to win to clinch the Premier League title.
As United left the field at the break, a clip went viral of the visibly frustrated Spaniard appearing to spit on the badge of our local rivals. Until now, the verdict was divided on whether Ander meant to do it or not.
“No I didn’t,” Herrera told Homewood, when asked whether he did it deliberately.
“Honestly, I didn’t [mean to] do it. I wanted to beat them [City]. I wanted to destroy them, the same as Liverpool. But I respect [them].
“The same as I want my badge to be respected, I do the same for the others. I didn’t do it on purpose, and I say that after the game.
“[I may have] even created some fans [among the United supporters] after that, but I have to be honest, I didn’t do it on purpose."
Herrera discusses City 'spitting' incident
In his UTD Podcast, Ander addresses the viral clip of him appearing to spit on Manchester City's crest...
He added: “I was so angry. We were losing 2-0. I was so angry, and I was just thinking about how we can fix that, and I didn’t do it on purpose.
“And after that, we won 3-2, if I am not wrong. They couldn’t celebrate the league in front of us, which was very [relieving].
“I love it because they had the T-shirts prepared and they couldn’t [wear them].”
How Herrera describes his three United managers
ArticleAnder has spoken in unique detail about Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Herrera’s episode of the UTD Podcast is now available, in both audio and video forms.
It was released at 17:00 GMT on Monday evening, and is exclusively available via the United App, ManUtd.com and MUTV for the first 24 hours, before it is then released externally via the usual podcast providers.
Tune in now to hear more brilliant stories about Ander’s United career. You really don’t want to miss it!