Lionel Messi. Andres Iniesta. Robert Lewandowski. The rich list of world-class players Pep Guardiola had coached before joining Manchester City was simply astounding.
And yet, three years after penning his move to the Etihad, Guardiola shocked world football with a claim that Phil Foden — then, a teenager who had yet to break into City’s regular starting XI — was the most talented player he had ever witnessed.
‘The most talented player I’ve ever seen,’ Guardiola said of Foden in 2019. ‘His only problem is sometimes his manager doesn’t put him in the starting XI. Hopefully in the future that can improve.’
Fast forward five years and Guardiola’s prophetic comments have materialised. Foden is Manchester City’s leading man, firing the Premier League giants to a record fourth successive title and heavy favourite for the PFA’s Player of the Year.
A well-taken double against Brighton on Thursday took the City superstar’s goal tally to 24 across all competitions and put last season’s Treble winners a point behind leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand.
Phil Foden (above) has fast become Pep Guardiola’s main man at Manchester City this season
The England star has netted 24 goals across all competitions and is pushing City towards an astonishing fourth successive Premier League title, a feat that has never been achieved before
The 23-year-old superstar opened up in an exclusive interview with Mail Sport last week
Foden has flourished since being handed the keys at the apex of Manchester City’s star-studded midfield, emerging a significant goal threat capable of turning up in the biggest matches.
While his assist numbers have largely remained the same season upon season, Foden’s goal tally has skyrocketed since taking up more advanced positions on the pitch. Of those who don’t take penalties for their respective teams, only Ollie Watkins has scored more Premier League goals than the England international.
Foden opened up on his Manchester City journey from ball boy to key player during an exclusive interview with Mail Sport’s IAN LADYMAN last week.
‘It’s been hard sometimes, you know, being the City fan who was a ball boy and then making it through the levels to the first team,’ Foden explained.
‘I don’t think it will ever really change you know? A little bit of that feeling is always gonna be there. But I have balance now. Maybe it’s finally gone this year, I don’t know.
‘The challenge for me was always a mountain to climb to even reach the first team. In my head I just wanted to make one appearance for this club and be able to say that I had done it.
‘But once I did that I thought: ‘No I can actually play here. I can handle the standard’.
‘Now I am at that stage where I feel like I am a key player in the team. I feel very comfortable with that.’
Despite frequently chopping and changing his luxurious squad, Guardiola always seems to have one player he perceives as his main man.
Last season, Erling Haaland only missed three Premier League matches and two Champions League games en route to the Treble.
Think back to the season before, when pundits were questioning City’s ruthlessness prior to signing a recognised striker, and De Bruyne was Guardiola’s trusted key man, continually called upon to operate every attacking role from false nine to midfield quarterback.
Until recently, Julian Alvarez appeared to be that permanent feature of the Manchester City attack, starting every single Premier League match under Guardiola until February. The Argentine, who himself has still had a wonderful season, was then not selected against title rivals Arsenal in March — and his recent return has been as a result of Haaland’s absence through injury.
But Foden’s electric form and impressive goal tally — which includes two stunning hat-tricks against Brentford and Aston Villa — has made the 23-year-old star undroppable in the eyes of Guardiola. He has started 29 of City’s 33 league matches so far, benched only in matches against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Luton and Sheffield United.
Guardiola (left), who in 2019 referred to Foden as the most talented player he has ever coached despite managing Lionel Messi, has tweaked his tactics to get the best out of his star
Foden celebrates after scoring in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Brighton on Thursday night
But perhaps most importantly, Foden has delivered for Guardiola in the biggest occasions. His stunning second-half equaliser against Real Madrid in the Champions League matched his sublime overall performance on the night. Despite City later crashing out in the second leg, it was a moment that proved Foden could deliver at the elite level.
Stretching the pitch and utilising width has always been a feature of Guardiola’s tactics. By forcing the opposition out wide, the Spanish boss looks to create as much space as possible in the midfield for his playmakers to operate, which is why the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan have all enjoyed success in the Man City engine room.
The role of those deployed out wide is to draw players out and create space rather than contribute directly with goals and assists.
Jack Grealish, for example, is an expert at this, despite struggling for form by his usual high standards this season.
Last campaign, in order to accommodate Haaland down the middle, Foden was often asked to play this role on the right flank, mirroring Grealish on the left, rather than drifting inside into more central areas. As a result, his goal threat was hampered.
A few tactical tweaks this season has unshackled Foden and given him licence to roam more freely.
Firstly, Kyle Walker has played a more advanced role this season, overlapping on the right hand side to support the attack, while Josko Gvardiol or Nathan Ake sit deeper in the left-back position to hold shape in defence.
Walker’s marauding runs enable Foden or Bernardo Silva — who also frequently lines up on the right wing — to cut inside and overload the half spaces in between the opposition’s defence and midfield, an area in which City continually wreak havoc.
Also, since the arrival of a genuine target forward in Haaland, De Bruyne has more reason to float on to the right wing during the build-up, occasionally overlapping on the flanks in order to deliver one of his trademark crosses into the penalty area.
When these two play alongside him, Foden is able to focus on dominating the centre of the pitch — where he is no doubt more devastating for City — rather than holding width on the right hand side.
The England international has turned up in the biggest moments for Man City this season, netting a stunning equaliser against Real Madrid in the Champions League last month
England manager Gareth Southgate will rely heavily on Foden at the European Championships
After climbing to new heights with Man City, Gareth Southgate and England will hope Foden raises his game on the international stage at this summer’s European Championships, with the 23-year-old almost a shoe-in to start for the Three Lions in Germany.
The next test for Foden comes against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with title favourites City still under pressure to win every game due to Arsenal’s rampant form.
Foden’s form, no doubt, will have a seismic impact on the title race.
