Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash – and it was yet another fine evening’s work from Phil Foden.
The England international was selected to start by Pep Guardiola against the Bundesliga outfit, and once again came up trumps in a big game.
He did squander a couple of good opportunities, but cropped up in the dying embers to convert Ilkay Gundogan’s cut-back to cap off an excellent performance overall.
That was the 20-year-old’s 12th strike of the season, and his name was once again on everyone’s lips during and after the game.
It was just another fine display from a young talent who is now absolutely flourishing in this remarkable team.
It doesn’t matter what the occasion is, or what position he is playing, the result is usually the same these days – Foden comes up with the goods, and is simply a joy to watch play football.
Arguably now, he is very close to becoming another undroppable player for Pep Guardiola.
This is an exclusive club which, really, only includes three players at the moment in Ederson, Ruben Dias and Kevin De Bruyne.
But it’s hard to see how Foden won’t become the next member.
Foden will soon be nailed-on starter
Given the quality and comfort with which he operates in any area of the pitch, it’s possible that Guardiola will soon start to feel uncomfortable leaving Foden out of his starting XI.
The manager has been extremely meticulous with his management of the starlet, but that now looks to be paying off and then some.
Pretty much every time Foden takes to the pitch now, he will have some sort of impact. He just makes things happen.
Someone with that kind of value has no business ever being on a substitutes’ bench.
