Tuesday gossip

Rob Pollard@RobPollardMCFC

Guardian: Foden display breathtaking

After City dominated the headlines in the aftermath of our third-consecutive Carabao Cup victory yesterday, this morning sees far fewer column inches dedicated to Pep’s men.

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But there is one in-depth piece about Phil Foden and it’s well worth a read.
It’s penned by David Hytner and it looks at the beauty and majesty of the 19-year old’s performance at Wembley.
Here’s an extract…

The Guardian: Phil Foden shows he is on course to replace David Silva at Manchester City
David Hytner writes: “Sometimes the yearning for the local boy to make good can blind fans to harsh realities but the question for Foden, particularly after Sunday, is not whether he will make it but how quickly and where.
“Nominally a No 10, there was an element of surprise when Guardiola lined him up on the right of his front three. In one of the biggest games of his short career, Foden was out of position. The challenge was immense and, possibly because of his burgeoning status, it was no exaggeration to say that all eyes were on him. The noise around Foden has been a constant since he starred for England’s under-17s in the World Cup triumph of 2017. He was named player of the tournament.

“The way Foden seized his opportunity was breathtaking; one of those coming-of-age stories so beloved of top-level sport. There was a stillness around him when he did his work, the sense that the ball was his best friend, almost an extension of his body. Witness when he was buffeted early on by a Villa challenger only to retain his balance and accelerate away. Most players would have gone down. Or when he took the most casually perfect touch to kill a high pass, jink inside and shoot just wide.
“There was a moment in the second half when he took another crossfield ball and, without letting it touch the ground, juggled forward with it. A bit of showboating? No. The over-riding impression was of a young player enjoying himself, eager to show everyone what he could do. It is the purity of the first touch that sets apart the very best; Foden’s is a thing of beauty. And, remember, he influenced this final from an unfamiliar position. Guardiola, who prizes tactical flexibility, would have loved that.
“Kevin De Bruyne said last week that sometimes City’s players “don’t really know until the game starts what we need to do". Guardiola wants them to interpret their roles, to respond to the ebb and flow. Foden, who set up the first goal of City’s 2-1 win for Sergio Agüero, did just that."
That's all for this morning's Media Watch - but stay with us throughout the day as we bring you all the latest ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup game at Sheffield Wednesday.
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