Chris Sutton has admitted he was completely wrong in his early judgement of one Manchester City player.
Manchester City stretched their unbeaten run to 19 matches on Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
The fantastic form has seen Pep Guardiola’s side lift the Club World Cup and continue to make progress in the Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League.
One player who has been absolutely vital is Phil Foden, who scored a stunning brace to complete the comeback against United.
The 23-year-old is playing the best football of his career and has contributed several decisive goals and assists.
Chris Sutton has been impressed with his form and now admits he made a common mistake about Foden as he was developing as a player.
Chris Sutton admits he was wrong about Phil Foden
Sutton said on The Monday Night Club: “It is about him maturing with age, that’s natural.
“Kevin De Bruyne is 32 now and I’m not saying he’s coming to the end but I didn’t realise how many seasons Foden has actually been… he’s been in the City team for a long, long time. For one so young.
“I remember when he was really young in the City team, I was one banging the drum for him to go out on loan and the importance of him getting that experience.
“I think I was wrong. You look at it now.
“But the other thing which I think is remarkable, and maybe we underplay this, is the competition at Manchester City is always fierce, has been so fierce.
“Gundogan has left the club going back a season, you look at the scrap for midfield places with De Bruyne and Silva.”
Masterful by Pep Guardiola
Sutton was far from the only voice demanding Foden be loaned out for years but Guardiola always resisted them.
Though he was only a teenager, Foden was still getting a decent number of minutes in the country’s best team and developing every day.
Being coached by Guardiola alongside the likes of De Bruyne and David Silva was judged to be more beneficial and it has proven to be a masterstroke.
Foden was raised in the City system and had what was demanded of him in the team engrained.
No one is calling for the likes of Rico Lewis or Oscar Bobb to be sent to the lower leagues for experience because no player leaves City on loan and goes on to be a success at the Etihad.
The best place for City’s young talent to develop is under Guardiola’s watchful eye.
