Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LYONV CUB
Pep’s excited by rare start for teen Foden ..even if Raheem isn’t!
PEP GUARDIOLA insists that rising star Phil Foden is ready to light up the biggest club stage of all.
Foden has spent the last 12 months emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in English football.
The attacking midfielder, 18, inspired the England U17 side to win the World Cup in India last year, before setting about the challenge of establishing himself in the Manchester City line-up.
Despite showing glimpses of his extraordinary gifts, Foden has still struggled to hold down a regular place in Guardiola’s side.
While England chief Gareth Southgate has called up unproven talents like Jadon Sancho, Ben Chilwell and Lewis Dunk, Foden has been kept waiting for his senior bow.
This could have something to do with the fact that Southgate is concerned about Foden’s lack of significant game time at club level.
Foden has made just two starts this season and has begun just one Champions League game in his career, last season’s group stage defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk in Kharkiv.
But all this could be about to change, with Guardiola missing some significant players through injury when City face Lyon in the Champions League in France tonight – as well as insisting that Foden is ready to showcase himself at the highest level.
Foden is poised to sign a new and improved long-term deal with City and boss Guardiola (below) said: “Definitely, he is ready. When Phil appeared in the last pre-season game against Bayern Munich in Miami, I was incredibly impressed.
“I think he’s stronger and more conscious that he’s able to play with us. He played
20 minutes in the last game and was so aggressive with the ball and intense without it.
“I have the feeling that, every time he played, he played good. In pre-season or during the season, a few minutes or 90 minutes, he always plays good.
“He’s ready to play, he’s part of the squad. He’s definitely ready.”
City are on the brink of winning Group F and booking a place in the knockout stages.
The Premier League champions are the bookmakers’ favourites to go on and win the Champions League this season.
Guardiola knows the pressure will be on his superstar side to deliver, but admits he might still have to convince his players they are good enough to win the biggest prize in club football.
He added: “Nobody has the guarantee to play one way.
“Nobody can show me you definitely can win the Champions League in a defensive way. We play how we want to play. Our job is to convince the players.”