The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has urged his 20-year-old midfielder, Phil Foden not to be like Kevin De Bruyne at the Premier League club. The Spanish tactician wants the English football star to be himself amid comparison between him and De Bruyne.
Phil Foden was regarded as the savior of Manchester City when the Premier League club faced a league two club, Cheltenham in the FA Cup 4th round on Saturday, January 23. The lowly rated club almost knocked out City from the competition as the League Two club maintained a 1-0 lead from the 59th minute until the 81st minute of the match.
It took the brilliance of Phil Foden in the 81st minute to save coach Pep Guardiola and his boys from the shame of losing to a League two club. Three minutes after Foden brought back Manchester City into the contest, the club’s striker, Gabriel Jesus made it two for City.
To the disappointment of Cheltenham, Manchester City ran away with the three points after City’s Ferran Torres made it three in the additional 4th minute of the game.
The brilliance of Phil Foden in the match has inspired football fans to keep comparing the 20-year-old English midfielder to Kevin De Bruyne who has been playing at Manchester City since August 2015.
The 29-year-old attacking midfielder is known for his brilliant run with the ball, passing accuracy, ability to dribble, and the ability to score goals when he has the opportunity. This season alone, the Belgium international has scored a total of 3 goals and provided 15 assists in 23 games in all competitions.
De Bruyne’s attributes can be seen in Phil Foden’s game. Though the youngster is a midfielder, he knows how to drive the ball into dangerous positions, create goalscoring opportunities, pass the ball, and score just like the Belgian.
Despite displaying a similar attribute with De Bruyne, the manager of Manchester City wants Phil Foden to carve a niche for himself in the game instead of being another De Bruyne at City.
“We have the players,” Guardiola said. “Phil has to be Phil and not be Kevin De Bruyne because there is only one Kevin De Bruyne.
“He needs to keep doing what he has been doing in terms of when we are in a bad moment or when we are losing in terms of what he gave to the game.”
Respect to @CTFCofficial tonight. Turned up and gave us a tough, tough game! 💙 pic.twitter.com/hjwbp4moEZ
— Phil Foden (@PhilFoden) January 23, 2021
On the outcome of the Manchester City FA Cup match against Cheltenham which ended 3-1 in favor of City, Pep Guardiola praised the effort of the League two club, noting that City won the game due to City’s response in 90 minutes.
“Every throw is more important than a corner or a free-kick and they have these moments, are taller, bigger and better than us in this aspect. But we reacted well and in this competition, it is not the first time a Premier League team has suffered.
“It is about our response in 90 minutes. At 1-0, I didn’t have any regrets about the way we were playing or behaving, and fortunately, the talent from the cross from Joao, the exceptional finish from Gabriel and Phil – the goals were excellent.”
