I’LL WAIT TO BE A PEP STAR
Wonder-kid Foden trusts Guardiola over game time
PHIL FODEN is prepared to bide his time at Manchester City and trust Pep Guardiola’s track record of bringing through young players.
The teenage wonder-kid pressed his claims for more game-time with a sparkling display in their League Cup win at Oxford.
On his first competitive start of the season Foden scored one and helped set up City’s other two goals in an easy 3-0 win at the League One side.
The midfielder displayed his undeniable talent to help England win the Under-17 World Cup last year, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
But that success also sparked concerns about how much club football England’s talented starlets will get to help them fulfil their potential.
Foden, 18, has arguably the toughest task of the lot, trying to claim a place in City’s starstudded side, and has had to wait patiently for his opportunities. But under Guardiola, who gave senior debuts to 22 players from Barcelona’s youth ranks in his four years in charge including Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara, Foden feels he is in safe hands.
He said: “Definitely, there is no need to rush. Pep knows what he is doing,
“I will play at the right time. He is good at bringing young players through, he has done it before. So I have to be patient.
“I’m still young, and still enjoying being there and learning.
“Pep is a massive help to me, and coach Mikel Arteta, both of them, massive.
“There are a lot of things still to improve, so I am just keeping my head down, and working hard and keep improving. Possibly I need to improve in not giving as many balls away, but that happens when you play. “You need to grow and be more mature, and I will get that as I get more games. “This game was massive, getting these cup games and run-outs whenever I can. “I just need to keep improving and hopefully one day I can be starting a lot more games.” Oxford boss Karl Robinson likened City’s boy wonder Foden to Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta (left). Comparisons like that are nothing new to Foden who had already been labelled the Stockport Iniesta by City fans.
He laughed: “Yeah, I am happy about that but Iniesta, come on, he is on a different planet. So for them to call me that is massive, it means a lot.”
Foden’s clinching strike in injury time against Oxford was his first goal in senior football.
He added: “It has not sunk in yet, it is an unbelievable feeling to get my first goal for City.”
And he took just as much satisfaction in his role in helping set up goals for Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez.
“I still get the enjoyment assisting and scoring,” Foden said. “I like to do both, and try and get both into my game.
“Training with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, players in the same position as me, I am learning every day off them.
“Watching what they do has really brought me on as a player as well, and working with Pep as well has really helped a big part of my game, bringing it on.”