Often, players who are quite slight in terms of their frame are not associated with being particularly strong.
Manchester City right-back once revealed that Raheem Sterling was stronger than one would assume.
Speaking to the club’s in-house media, Walker said: “He’s deceptively [strong]. You don’t know how strong he is. He is so strong to try move off the ball.”
Considering Sterling is known for his speed, ability to dart past players using his quick feet and low centre of gravity, one would perhaps think that he is easy to bully in physical battles.
However, the former City winger held his own against some of the strongest defenders in the Premier League.
In the English top-flight in particular, if players cannot handle the physicality of the league, they are likely to struggle.
Rodri reveals “small” Man City player is “very strong”
Dimunitive players like Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva have shown that players can still play at the elite level in the Premier League.
However, both Gundogan and Bernardo have been able to stand their ground against burly opponents.
If that was not the case, Pep Guardiola would perhaps have decided not to play them as much as he has at Manchester City.
Similarly, Phil Foden is another player whose size would perhaps give one the impression that he is easily to barge on the pitch.
However, Rodri revealed that Foden is deceptively strong.
In a video with the club’s official in-house media, it was revealed that the £225,000-a-week man’s physicality is rated 63 on EA FC25.
However, the Spaniard stated: “This is what I mean, for example, his physicality, it’s 63 but for me, even though he’s small, he’s very strong on the pitch.”
Phil Foden can ride challenges
Foden is a player who is often positioned in areas of the pitch that are surrounded by opposition players.
The Stockport-born midfielder is able to get out of tight areas due to his slick dribbling and ability to leave a marker for dead due to his impeccable half-turn.
Naturally, opposition players try to hack him down.
However, Foden is able to ride such challenges and continue to drive with the ball or play his desired choice of pass successfully.
If the decorated technician was easy to go toe-to-toe with, he would end up being floored or simply lose the ball constantly.
