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Manchester City and Manchester United fans paid tribute to Ricky Hatton before the Etihad derby after his death at the age of 46.
Pep Guardiola said the tribute to Ricky Hatton before Sunday's Manchester derby will stay with him for the rest of his life, calling it the most intense and emotional tribute he can remember in his 10 years at the Etihad Stadium.
Hatton was found dead in his home on Sunday morning and the two sets of supporters joined a thunderous minute's applause before Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners against Manchester United on derby day.
The former world champion boxer was a huge Blue and was due to be at at the Etihad for the game. His boxing exploits made him a hero across the city and chants of 'one Ricky Hatton' rang out around the stadium.
Guardiola looked visibly emotional during the tributes to Hatton, 46, having got to know the boxer during his decade in Manchester. He didn't speak about Hatton to the team on Sunday but was awestruck by the way the crowd reacted.
"I've been 10 years here, there's a lot of minutes silence, I don't remember one so. so, so intense like today," said Guardiola.
"I want to say thank you so much for Man United fans for the way they behave and they applaud. I know he was a world champion in boxing.
"It was a special, special moment. Of course, there's no words that can explain the pain that the family feel right now for this loss.
"But of course, we are close. I know how incredible a Man City fan he is, he could live the bad moments and the good moments in the last 10, 15 years. I think he will enjoy it. I know for the fans how close he was.
"The minute’s applause was unbelievable. It was an experience that I will always remember because they feel, in every applause or every person in the stadium, the gratitude for what he has done professionally and of course being a massive, massive City fan. We are so sad and feel so sorry for the family."
Phil Foden scored City's first goal against United and before kick-off he had also paid tribute to Hatton.
"My heart obviously goes out to his family at this hard time,” said Foden. “To hear the news just before a big game is devastating, I'm sure he would have been here today supporting us.
"Today is for him and we're going to try and get the win and do the best for him."
Speaking after the game, Foden added: “That was for him, his family, the people suffering right now. The lads made sure we gave everything.
“It wasn’t a pretty match today at the end, but the way we won, it was all for him and we’re delighted at the result.
“It was extra motivation going into the game.”
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