Phil’s growing in middle-man role under Pep
FOR a young player who was itching to show what he could do in the derby, Phil Foden had to be extremely disciplined at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola often demands that his wide players make sacrifices for the team, telling them to stick to the touchline and not be tempted by all the fun stuff happening down the middle.
That has led to Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane being peripheral figures in plenty of games, through no fault of their own.
The point is that, by stretching the opposition defence, they create gaps through which the full-backs, or Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, can stride, to open up tight formations.
That has been a staple of City’s success in the last three years, but when it does not work – as in Sunday’s derby – it leaves the wide man blending neatly into the mass of nearby spectators.
Foden made a big success of the right-wing role at Wembley a week before, but without Kyle Walker or De Bruyne making those runs, he was reduced to onlooker for much of the game.
He still produced a telling pass to Raheem Sterling which he should have finished, when the game was 0-0, but for much of the first half, the game passed him by.
He responded well in the second half, fizzing in a shot which forced David de Gea into an acrobatic save, and perpetually demanding the ball.
But when Mahrez was told to get stripped, the fear among Foden’s large army of fans was that he would be the man to get hooked.
Whether it was a decision based on saving legs for the Arsenal game tomorrow, or a genuine nod to Foden’s willingness and bravery to try to make things happen, only Guardiola knows.
But Mahrez took Foden’s role on the right and the 19-year-old was trusted with De Bruyne’s usual position, tucked inside.
Mahrez instantly improved the supply line down the right and was unlucky to see one cross glance off Sterling’s toe as he lunged at full stretch.
Foden was now in the thick of it, expected to show the kind of awareness and vision which have made Silva and De Bruyne major stars.
With United sitting deep and defending their lead by that point, the spaces between the lines were tight and swiftly squeezed. Foden’s game suffered a little as he desperately tried to get on the ball and make things happen – more so than his senior colleagues – but Guardiola will be pleased with what he saw.
The City boss reserves his anger for players who do not show the bravery to try to create, to try to score, to try to beat the man.
His transformation of Sterling was based entirely around telling him not to worry if he took on his man and failed - he would never be criticised for having a go, only for lacking the courage to do so.
It was a poor performance from City on a murky afternoon, and Foden will have far better games in the years ahead.
But his willingness, first to sacrifice for the team, and then to assume the mantle of being the main man, speaks of his growing status within the team.
Foden’s game suffered a little as he desperately tried to get on the ball and make things happen Stuart Brennan