Manchester United Deny Ander Herrera Intentionally Spat at City Crest

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has dismissed suggestions he deliberately spat at the Manchester City crest on Saturday during the meeting between the two sides.

Footage emerged of Herrera on social media spitting at the floor as he walked off the field at half-time, where City have their emblem printed outside the tunnel. However, the Red Devils have denied the player's actions were intentional.

"Ander has seen the footage of the incident and is mortified at any suggestion that his actions were deliberate," said a United spokesperson (h/t Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror). "It was entirely accidental and there was no intent whatsoever."

Herrera posted the following message on his Instagram account on Monday, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:

According to James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph, sources at City are said to feel as though Herrera was "disrespectful and immature."

At the time of the incident in question, United were 2-0 down in the derby having been outplayed by their rivals. However, they launched a brilliant second-half comeback to win 3-2 on the day, with Herrera expertly setting up the Red Devils' opening goal.

It was Herrera's first start for United since the first leg of the team's UEFA Champions League clash with Sevilla.

As noted by blogger Liam Canning, the midfielder was excellent in a memorable win for the Red Devils:

Afterwards, the former Athletic Bilbao midfielder posted the following message on his Twitter account:

The match was a typically feisty affair between the two Manchester rivals, both on and off the field. According to Ducker, Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho had a coin thrown at him during the game, which he picked up and handed to a ballboy.

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Herrera isn't usually a man to calm tempers in such a white-hot atmosphere, and at the Etihad Stadium, he showcased he has an edge to his game. Aside from his work on the ball, the 28-year-old won tackles consistently, and he was vital when United needed to take the sting from the game.

Journalist Daniel Harris commented on the player's perception after the match and how different things may have been for him at United under different leadership:

Following the summer arrival of Nemanja Matic and the recent emergence of Scott McTominay, Herrera has found his minutes limited this season. Injuries haven't helped the cause of the Spain international, either.

Still, there's potentially a career for him yet at Old Trafford, as United's midfield trio of Herrera, Pogba and Matic functioned wonderfully in the second half of the match.