Pep Guardiola believes Phil Foden is enjoying his best season yet for Manchester City.
The Blues gained ground in the Premier League title race on Monday with a 3-1 win over Brentford putting them within two points of leaders Liverpool.
City had to overcome an early set back, though, as the awkward Bees took the lead through Neal Maupay in the first half.
Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was keeping all of City’s efforts out but his resolve was finally broken when Foden pounced on a loose ball and turned in seconds before the half-time whistle.
Foden then inspired City’s victory as he grabbed two more goals to complete his second career hat trick. It was a fantastic display and Guardiola was full of praise after the fact.
Pep Guardiola hails Phil Foden’s incredible form
Speaking after the match, Guardiola claimed Foden is enjoying the best season of his professional career, which is a big statement given he won the treble last term.
The Blues boss handed Foden his debut as a 17-year-old in 2017 and has patiently nurtured his talent in the years since to help him become one of the finest players in the country.
“He has played a lot of games, he is a guy that plays different positions and has the ability in spaces and the centre of goal because he likes to arrive in the box,” Guardiola told Sky Sports after the game.
“They [Brentford] are so deep, spaces are difficult so to have a player moving in these spaces is so important. He loves moving in the 18-yard box and he is playing his best season since we are together.”
Is Phil Foden playing the best football of his career?
It might be easy to forget but Foden is now in to his seventh season as a professional at City and is still just 23-years-old. He has won everything there is to win for his club and, yet, improvements are still being made.
Foden already has 20 goal contributions to his name this season – 11 goals and nine assists – which is just five behind his tally for all of last season and six off his best ever return.
It’s clear he has become much more decisive in the attacking third and if he continues at the same rate he should smash his personal best given there is so much of the season to go.
But perhaps the biggest difference is he is now playing more than ever. Foden only hasn’t started twice in the Premier League all season and he is repaying the trust shown in him by Guardiola tenfold.
