WE FEEL FODEN’S QUALITY, SAYS PEP
PEP GUARDIOLA hailed Phil Foden’s growing maturity after he played a key part in Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final success against Borussia Dortmund.
The 20-year-old twice settled City’s nerves with winning goals in both legs against the German side. On Wednesday, he struck from outside the box as City came from behind to win 2-1 and complete a 4-2 aggregate success.
His contributions ensured quadruple-chasing City progressed to the last four for only the second time in their history and the first since Guardiola took charge five years ago.
Guardiola, who has gradually eased Foden into the side over the course of his tenure, said: ‘You have the feeling he is a guy who never hides.
‘He always creates something. He is dynamic offensively, defensively with quality in the smaller spaces.
‘He is learning right now not to take just one touch. He is able to make more touches when making decisions.
‘He scored two important goals. The second goal in the Etihad and now helped us to be in the semi-final.
‘He was the important player We knew it from the beginning and how he grew up.’
City now face fellow big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. And Guardiola feels his team have survived a big test and cleared a psychological barrier.
‘Now we are incredibly happy,’ he said. ‘Three times in the last five years we have been out of the Champions League on away goals. The margin is so minimal. When that has happened, not everything is a disaster. You should not be judged on one season when we are there in the Premier League every day.
‘We are not mature enough in this competition but the players learned a lot in the last seasons. Here we broke this bridge, mentally for all the club. It was a big relief and so important.’
City return to domestic matters tomorrow and an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.