FODEN HAS THE EPOWER

PAUL POWER will be remembered as a true Manchester City legend for two reasons.

The former midfielder served his boyhood club in an 11-year spell where he was both captain and an ever-present in their engine room.

But Power, now 68, played an equally integral role during his second act as a City youth coach by helping secure Phil Foden’s longterm future at the Etihad Stadium.

The Stockport-born playmaker had already become a coveted talent across the North West before signing for the club that has guided his incredible rise to the top. And now he has signed a lucrative new five-year deal at the Etihad.

Power said: “Phil Foden had been the most sought-after player from the age of six. Everybody knew about him. I just went along and tried to find what his dad’s intentions were.

“From sitting in their front room of a mid-terrace house, I could see a typical working-class dad who didn’t accept standards below what he expected.

“I think that’s all stood him in good stead. The work-rate that he shows on the football pitch is exactly what he’s been used to with his upbringing.”

Foden etched his name into City folklore earlier this month with a hat-trick in the Manchester derby, where he shared the match ball with Erling Haaland.

Power, however, believes

Haaland will have less freedom to exploit space at Anfield than he enjoyed in

City’s 6-3 rout over

Manchester United just a fortnight ago.

He added: “I played with

Trevor Francis who came into that same category really.

“He wasn’t interested when the opposition had the ball. But I didn’t mind working hard for him because I knew that if I got the ball to him then he might win my bonus money!

“When I watched the United game, they dropped off City and didn’t press the ball until even sometimes past the halfway line.

“If you allow good players that much time on the ball, then you’re causing a problem for yourselves. Liverpool won’t do that.”