Pep’s 10-year plan for Foden
PEP Guardiola backed Phil Foden to become a City hero and urged him to stay at the club for a decade.
The 18-year-old was instrumental on his first start of the season, setting up the first two goals with balls that would have made Kevin de Bruyne purr, before netting the third goal in injury time to complete a comprehensive performance.
City have been excited about the teenager for a long, long time and the manager knew from his first performance in a summer friendly against United in July 2017 that he had a gem on his hands.
Foden has been a member of the senior squad for more than a year and the decision was taken in the summer neither to send him on loan nor allow him to go to the Under-19 European Championships with England in order to let him have a full season with the club, starting with the two-week tour of the United States.
Guardiola knew in the summer he did not need to strengthen the attacking midfield role precisely because of Foden, and the longer he stays the more money he will save the club.
“Phil arrived last season and showed he was special and that is why we didn’t buy any attacking midfielders in that position,” said Guardiola.
“We have Phil and he belongs in our team and if he fights he will have his minutes. He is a guy who is so physical and strong. “He grew up a lot the last year, he still needs to grow but I think after more than one year with us, the rhythm and pace we play with, he has got it and that is why he is ready to play with us home and away.
“My dream is for him to stay 10 years, and if Phil stays 10 years he can in the next decade play quite regularly,” Guardiola added.
“He likes to be here. He’s an exceptional young player and for the next decade Manchester City will have an amazing player. He has the quality to be 10 years here. I think he wants to stay and the club want him to stay here.”