Manchester City are known for their sensational football but they are still a team built on the foundation of hard work.
Pep Guardiola has developed a complex and intricate system during his eight years in charge at City, resulting in untold success and some of the best football ever seen.
But none of it would work if every single player didn’t dig in deep and muck in with the difficult side of the game.
City are a pressing machine who don’t give opponents a moment to rest when they are on the ball.
Being so aggressive required mighty stamina and a whole lot of running. Every player pulls their weight but one has worked harder than any other so far this season.
ManCity’s hardest-working player this season
The Premier League shared a post on X revealing the players who have run the most for each of the 20 teams so far this season.
Taking the top place for City is Phil Foden, who has covered 243km on the pitch.
More proof of how good Phil Foden is
It’s yet another fantastic statistic that backs up just how excellent Foden has been this year as he continues to get better and better.
City were without two of their most important forwards Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland for a significant chunk of the season.
The brilliant Belgian tore his hamstring 20 minutes into the campaign which ruled him out of the rest of 2023 while Haaland missed 12 matches with a stress reaction in his foot.
While they were both side-lined, it was Foden who stepped up and ensured City maintained pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Trusted with more time in a central position, Foden is blossoming in a role he has always desired to play in and, as he and Guardiola both both agree, he’s playing the best football of his career.
Foden’s fine finish against Copenhagen was his 25th goal contribution of the season, just one shy of his best-ever tally which he will almost certainly obliterate.
Yet, he’s still managing to put in the greatest effort. What a player.
