Foden thrives in big game atmosphere
SINCE wowing Pep Guardiola in front of more than 67,000 people in the first Manchester derby to be played outside of the UK, Phil Foden has started in just two of the subsequent nine meetings.
Just once in more than five years since that sweltering day in Houston has the Stockport youngster been named in a City XI for a Premier League game against their biggest rivals.
Of course, Foden has had to be patient and is still only 21. He was never going to start in the biggest games of the season while he was still learning how to thrive in a Guardiola team where the standard required is so high. And when he did get his chance to shine, in March 2020 at Old Trafford, the Blues were well below their best as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat that summed up a frustratingly inconsistent season.
The feeling remains though that for some time Foden has been sorely under-used in – despite what Guardiola has said – one of the biggest fixtures in the calendar.
His energy and quality saw him very unfortunate to be a substitute in the home defeat in December 2019, the away bore-draw in December 2020, and the home defeat in March 2021. Another unfathomable selection decision can never be ruled out with the City boss but, while Foden humbly rejected the suggestion on Wednesday night, he has to be one of the first names on the teamsheet for Saturday’s game.
After missing the beginning of the season with an injury picked up ahead of the Euro 2020 final, the 21-year-old boasts five goals and five assists from eight starts so far; in one of the two games he blanked, at Chelsea away, the
If the City boss wants to show how important the derby is, a start for Foden is a must Simon Bajkowski
eyes will tell you he was still one of the best players.
A masterclass at Anfield for the second successive season also reiterated what last season’s Champions League run confirmed: Foden is a player who thrives in big games. Speaking after the 4-1 win over Club Brugge, the player did not shy away from the demands of a role that is not his preferred one and said that it is the responsibility of anyone taking up the No.9 role in the team without an orthodox striker to score goals. However collective the City team is, it still needs individuals happy to step up and shoulder the burden.
Whether Foden continues in that No.9 role, reverts to the left wing position that gave Liverpool nightmare or slips into a midfield role that earned him praise on England duty recently remains to be seen. As Guardiola has said though, his position isn’t of the utmost relevance because he makes an impact wherever he plays.
If the City coach wants to show how important the derby is, a start for the local star in the squad is a must.