THE CITY Foden is just out to be a legend
WILCOX REVEALS WHAT DRIVES STARLET
PHIL FODEN has a medal for roughly every 14 games he has played for Manchester City. It’s an incredible stat – made even more spectacular by the fact that he has made 56 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s men since he helped them lift their last trophy, the Carabao Cup, 13 months ago.
In the coming weeks, Foden has the opportunity to add to a haul that already includes two Premier League titles, three League Cups, the FA Cup and two Community Shields from the first 116 games he has played for the club.
And, once the league is sealed, with a Champions League semi-final meeting with Paris Saint-Germain looming on Wednesday night, there is a chance that Foden’s 21st birthday on May 28 will be spent getting an early night in preparation for the biggest game in club football.
“Phil wants to be the best player in the world,” said Jason Wilcox (right), City’s academy manager and a title winner himself with Blackburn in 1995.
“It doesn’t matter how many medals he wins, I don’t think he will ever lose his hunger because he loves playing football. It’s what he was born to do.
“When he was coming through the academy I asked all the players what motivated them. Some of them said that they wanted to buy mum and dad a big house or look after their families, fair enough.
“Phil said, ‘I just want to be a City legend’. That was it. That’s what drives him.
“He is living his dream.”
Talk of the “kid from Stockport” had reached the first-team dressing room by the time he was 14.
Pablo
Zabaleta could not believe his eyes when he finally saw Foden in the flesh.
He said:
“I had heard about this kid in the academy and when
I started my coaching badges I got to work with the Under15s team.
“Phil was 14 – but even then his natural talent was incredible. But what really impressed me was his intelligence and the way he listened to his coaches.”