Rodri was left seriously impressed by one of his Manchester City teammates in Monday’s victory over Brentford.
City gained ground in the Premier League title race by moving within two points of leaders Liverpool with the 3-1 victory in London.
There was an early scare in the match as Neal Maupay gave the hosts the lead while goalkeeper Mark Flekken made a string of fine saves to keep Pep Guardiola’s side at bay.
But City’s dominance soon paid off as Phil Foden finally breached the Bees’ goal just before the break. The 23-year-old chested down a loose ball in the box and calmly slotted home.
It would be the first of three for Foden as he completed a second career hat trick by nodding in a smart header and tucking away in the corner after a fine one-two with Erling Haaland.
It was a match-winning display from the ‘Stockport Iniesta’ and it left Rodri blown away.
Rodri left impressed by Phil Foden
“I think we have shown all these months how the team works well,” Rodri told AS after the match.
“There are great players who have taken a step forward, for example Foden today. He’s in great shape, he has been showing it for many years and today he was immense.”
He’s not the only one
Rodri was not alone in expressing his delight with Foden’s performance, with Guardiola declaring after the match that the No.47 is playing the best football of his career.
It can’t be a coincidence that such an up-turn in form has coincided with a regular move to a central position. Though Foden is still deployed on the flanks on paper, the marauding full-backs allow him to position himself in the middle where he is thriving.
Foden already has 20 goal contributions this season – 11 goals and nine assists – and is on course to smash his personal best of 26. It’s going to be exciting to watch him do so.
