Guardiola: It’s not going to be easy for Foden
ON A day of special significance for two modern-day Manchester City legends, Pep Guardiola has warned Phil Foden and the next generation about the challenge of following in their footsteps.
Guardiola is having to oversee a changing of the guard at the Etihad. Yaya Toure and long-time captain Vincent Kompany have gone, David Silva leaves this summer and Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho are in their thirties.
Aguero will equal Thierry Henry’s tally of 175 goals — the most by an overseas player in the Premier League — if he scores against Aston Villa today. After the match, a City delegation will travel to London for a Footballer Writers’ Association dinner in honour of Kompany, now manager of Belgian club Anderlecht. Bigmoney signings Riyad Mahrez,
Benjamin Mendy, Rodri and Joao Cancelo have done little to suggest they will become the next icons, leading to hopes that academy kids Foden, Eric Garcia, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tommy Doyle may have a long-term impact like Manchester United’s Class of 92.
Guardiola is urging caution. ‘I don’t know if any important club in Europe plays teenagers every week when the demand is to win titles and it’s really difficult,’ he said. ‘We have the tendency in all countries to say someone will be the new Wayne Rooney, George Best or David Beckham after two games. I am a fan of respecting a little bit the process with young guys. Time is needed to make them believe “this is difficult”. When the quality is there like Phil, he plays a lot for someone his age.
‘More than 50 games so far at his age is remarkable. Everything is going to happen naturally with this type of talent.
‘All the young players are all mates and you can see they are Man City fans by the clip of them supporting us at Old Trafford. I would like to answer they will all become great players for Man City but I don’t know.’
On the face of it, the midfielder has done well to make 57 firstteam appearances at the age of 19 but he has started only five matches in the Premier League.
Guardiola has reiterated his promise that Foden will get his chance to be Silva’s successor. ‘He is an incredible player but has things to improve,’ said the manager. ‘I have said many times say that when David leaves we are not going to buy any player in his position because we have Phil. We trust him. He is is going to take his minutes or maybe he has to fight with Kevin (De Bruyne), Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan) and Bernardo can play there.’
Guardiola says the search continues to try to find young players who can do what Aguero, Kompany have delivered.
‘We knew nobody could be like Vinny in the locker room. But everyone is special in their own way. I said to the players I didn’t want anyone to try and copy him. You have to be who you are, that is the most important thing.’