PHIL: WE’RE BACK TO OUR BEST!
PHIL Foden admits his confidence is soaring after once again grasping his chance to shine for City.
The 20-year-old hit the Blues’ winner as they continued to put pressure on United and Liverpool at the top of the table with a 1-0 victory over Brighton at the Etihad.
The midfielder’s superb strike from the edge of the area just before half-time was his eighth goal of the campaign, making him City’s top scorer this season.
It came in his fourth successive start in all competitions, with manager Pep Guardiola admitting the youngster, after being carefully managed over the past four years, was now starting to demand regular inclusion.
Foden, who has also scored two goals for England this term, said: “I have never enjoyed my football as much as I am now. When you are scoring goals, your confidence is so high.
“I just want to keep helping the team as best as I can. I always like to score goals and be there in the box. I want to keep scoring goals.”
Foden’s effort made the difference for City on a night when they had to work hard for their three points.
Raheem Sterling missed a penalty and Bernardo Silva hit the woodwork but, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez making several good saves, the visitors proved stubborn opposition. City’s victory was their fourth in succession in the Premier League and extended their unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions.
“We dug deep to get the win,” Foden said. “They made it really difficult for us to break them down. “Overall I’m very proud of the team, how we kept going until the final whistle and it was a great result. “We just want to keep going with this form, but we just have to think about the next opponent and not too far ahead. “Hopefully, at the end of the year you are challenging to win the league.” City are now third, a point behind Liverpool and four adrift of United, but they have played one game fewer than their title rivals.
I definitely feel we are back to our best. We can definitely take confidence from the last few results Phil Foden
“We know that we have a game in hand now and we just have to think of the next opponent and not think too far ahead,” Foden added.
“We just want to keep going with this form and pushing to win the league, hopefully.
“I definitely feel that we’re back to our best. We can definitely take confidence from the last few results now.
“I still thought we could have done better (against Brighton), and we dug deep to get the win. I’m very proud of the team, how we kept going until the final whistle, and overall it was a great result.”
On Brighton and his goal, Foden added: “They defended really well. They had a good game plan and they made it difficult for us to break them down.
“So to get the goal just before half-time was really important - and it ended up being the winning goal, so I’m delighted. I don’t score too many with my right foot, so when they come along, I enjoy it.”