Monday gossip

MCFCEditorial

Media Watch: Foden’s day at Wembley

It is the morning after the night before and, having played a starring role in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa, Phil Foden is the name on everyone’s lips.

Men's Team
Foden reacts to Carabao Cup success
The 19-year-old dominates Monday’s back pages, thanks to what felt like a coming of age performance at Wembley Stadium.
There is also praise for Claudio Bravo, who made a vital match-winning save late in the game to ensure City lifted the Carabao Cup for a third successive season.

Match reaction

BBC: Phil Foden offers glimpse into life without David Silva
Writes Phil McNulty: “Manchester City will move into a new era when the great David Silva ends a glorious decade of success at the end of this season and at Wembley on Sunday Phil Foden offered a glimpse into what the changing of the guard will offer.
“As Manchester City secured the EFL Cup for the third successive year with a victory over Aston Villa that was more comfortable than the 2-1 scoreline suggests, Foden's man-of-the-match award was fully deserved.
“He plays with a maturity and vision way beyond his years and while England manager Gareth Southgate chose to take in Everton's meeting with Manchester United at Goodison Park, any report he receives on one of his young brigade from Wembley will be glowing."

Men's Team

Zinchenko: Let's rename it the Claudio Bravo Cup!
Sky Sports: Phil Foden starred as Manchester City won the Carabao Cup final
Adam Bate reports: “Sergio Aguero provided the finishing touch for Manchester City's opening goal against Aston Villa but it was the run of Phil Foden that made it possible.
“This latest glimpse of his vast potential was enough to earn the 19-year-old the man-of-the-match award as City beat Aston Villa 2-1 to win a third consecutive Carabao Cup final under Pep Guardiola.
“The Wembley stage is where Foden belongs and where he will surely deliver many more such performances in the decade to come.
“He is too good not to. The close control is flawless, the turn of pace impressive, and the weight of pass just oozes quality. Encouragingly, Foden continues to sound remarkably down to earth too."
The Guardian: Virtuoso cup final display suggests future is Phil Foden-coloured
Writes Barney Ronay: “On a fun, occasionally full‑throated afternoon at Wembley Manchester City extended their hugely impressive winning run to six of the past seven domestic trophies.
“At times City seemed to doze a little at the wheel. Aston Villa played with heart and might have made it 2-2 at the death. But there was a fleeing always of the domestic trophy juggernaut, holding its opponent at arm’s length.
“Most of all there was a performance of ethereal grace from Phil Foden, who played brilliantly at the start when the game was there to be taken, who had five shots at goal, completed 46 of his 51 passes, dribbled around pretty much the whole Villa team, and showed an alluring command of the space around him."

Interviews

Guardiola full of praise for Foden
Daily Mail: Tom Heaton praises fellow goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for his late stop to deny Bjorn Engels a last gasp equaliser
Heaton: “It was a good save from Claudio Bravo. I think Gary Neville and co. are usually pretty harsh on goalkeepers but it has come at him quickly there.
“He has got two hands on it but it is not far out and it is a really good save and won the cup for them in many respects. You are just looking for that moment and it is such fine margins, it is a decent header but he has done well to keep that out.
“He has produced that moment, it matters, and it is that sort of fine margins that takes you into extra time or wins it for you and today it has fallen in his favour."