Fresh-faced Foden helps exorcise City’s demons
LONDON — At the fifth time of asking, Pep Guardiola has guided Manchester City to a Champions League semifinal as it saw off Borussia Dortmund and the demons of previous quarterfinal disappointments on Wednesday.
Attention will now turn to a semifinal clash with Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain — a meeting of two projects financed by Middle Eastern investment.
But for all the money pumped into City by its Abu Dhabi owners, it was a product of the club’s youth academy, Phil Foden, who came up with the goods as nerves frayed for Guardiola’s men.
Foden’s 90th-minute strike in last week’s first leg against Dortmund handed City a slender 2-1 lead to take to Germany.
However, that was canceled out by another burgeoning young English star when 17-year-old Jude Bellingham’s first Champions League goal gave a Dortmund a 1-0 lead on the night and the advantage in the tie on away goals.
As chances came and went before halftime, Guardiola would have been forgiven for fearing history might repeat itself.
City has bowed out on away goals twice in his previous four seasons, while a combination of controversial refereeing calls and defensive mistakes cost it in three successive quarterfinal exits to
Liverpool, Tottenham and Lyon.
This time, though, City’s luck turned as a Foden cross was handled by Emre Can inside the box and VAR did not intervene to overturn the decision.
“This competition is nice but at the same time is so unfair because when you are out, it is judged a disaster when you play 11 months for the league, FA Cup, League Cup, for everything,” said Guardiola, whose side remains on course for the first ever quadruple in English soccer history.
“Today was a penalty with a hand and maybe could be not given. We were out against Tottenham (in 2019) for a hand by (Fernando) Llorente that was not given.”
A missed penalty also cost City in that tie against Tottenham, but this time Riyad Mahrez converted the spot-kick.
Foden then took center stage with a powerful drive 15 minutes from time to guarantee City’s place in the last four for just the second time in the club’s history.
By scoring, the 20-year-old also became just the second player under 21 to score in both legs of a Champions League quarterfinal after Kylian Mbappe, who he will face in the semifinals.
“You have the feeling he is a guy who never hides,” Guardiola said of Foden. “He always creates something. He is dynamic offensively, defensively and in the small spaces.”
Foden also provided what City needed as he is a fresh face, unburdened by previous Champions League failures.
Ilkay Gundogan admitted City was “scared to lose something” in a slow start.
The relief at turning around what could have been another nightmare European night was evident as Foden ran into the arms of Guardiola and was swamped by celebrating teammates after the second goal.
“For the club, it is so important,” said Guardiola. “We cannot deny it. This competition is tough mentally. You work for 10 months and for one goal. One mistake, you are out.”