Phil Foden: Rising Star Amidst Man City’s Ongoing Champions League Defense

Erling Haaland who is putting on his serial goalscorer’s clothes, Kevin De Bruyne on the way back to his best level: it is through the prism of this infernal duo that we are tempted to approach the start of serious things for Manchester City in the Champions League. The Citizens travel to Copenhagen on Tuesday evening (9 p.m.) in the round of 16 first leg, with the firm desire not to be frightened in the defense of their title. And they will obviously rely on their infernal pair.

But make no mistake. Since each of them has dealt with serious injuries this season, another element has emerged as City’s (very) strong man: Phil Foden.

The England international is quite simply the player most used by Pep Guardiola this season, including his goalkeeper Ederson. 33 matches in all competitions, 28 starts: Foden is automatically aligned by the Catalan technician, who was only a second knife in his quest for the Champions League last season.

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The season where he has the most influence

“This is the season where he has the most influence on the team, in terms of goals, assists, rejoiced Pep Guardiola at a press conference a few days ago. He reads the game very well, our way of playing. He always enjoys scoring, when he is in the last 30 meters, the threat is always there. He is an exceptional player. At such a young age, he already has over 250 appearances for City. That shows his impact and influence since he’s been here. He loves to play, he reminds me of those kids you see playing in the street.”

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A true declaration of love, one more – he had already designated him as the “most talented” player he had ever coached – for a young element that he sometimes had to steal. “He’s not a player who thinks so much when he plays,” he said three months ago. But things have changed a lot since then. Because in the absence of City’s lethal weapons, Foden established himself as the player through whom everything passed.

There are the glaring statistics. The 23-year-old is City’s second-highest scorer (13, tied with Julian Alvarez), and their top assist (10). But also everything that we don’t see and which explains why… we notice it just as much. Among the Mancunians, no one touches more balls than him among the offensive players – he has touched 100 more than Alvarez with a comparable playing time – he is the reference in terms of actions leading to a shot (115, with Rodri), no one got more fouls than him (46) and only Jeremy Doku does better in terms of successful dribbles (77 against 40). Or how to give a definition of omnipresence in numbers.

Phil Foden (Manchester City) author of a hat-trick at Brentford in the Premier League, February 5, 2024

Credit: Getty Images

He will succeed De Bruyne

The change in status is therefore confirmed, and the ambition can only increase tenfold. “I want to become one of the best players in the Premier League this season,” he assured our colleagues at TNT Sports. “I want to try to become the player the team relies on to create, score and make goals. assists. I’m not considered a young player anymore, so I feel there’s a little more pressure but that’s all I like. I love it and I think I play better under pressure “.

He was happy to beat the enemy United in the first leg (0-3), score against Tottenham (3-3), open the scoring in Leipzig (1-3) and equalize in the return match against this same opponent in C1 (3-2), for example. Faced with more modest opposition, his wide range and his formidable left paw allow him to unlock a good number of situations. Latest example: his hat-trick at Brentford, including an equalizing goal at the end of the first half to put an end to the festival of the opposing goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and thus change the face of a meeting which could easily have turned into a quagmire. A real “game changer” reminiscent of a certain Kevin De Bruyne.

“He will succeed Kevin (De Bruyne) and Bernardo (Silva) in the future, I am convinced,” Guardiola announced. The question now is how to get all these people to coexist in the very big posters, taking into account the fact that it is inside the game that Foden flourishes best. “I don’t see who can pass or cross the ball like him, so if we have to win something, we will do it with Kevin back on top,” said the England international in any case about his Belgian teammate . Progress, yes. But before becoming the sole boss of City and replacing “KDB”, he still has to learn alongside him.

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2024-02-13 18:32:00
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