Steve Bruce has lauded Phil Foden for being a consistent presence at Manchester City over the years.
The former West Bromwich Albion boss told Stadium Astro that what emphasises Foden’s special talent is that he has managed to become a key player in one of the best teams in the world from a young age.
This season alone, the 23-year-old has started in 16 out of 20 games for Manchester City in all competitions.
Steve Bruce raves about “outstanding” Phil Foden
The Englishman has been tipped to reach the top from his days as a teenager, with a report in November claiming that the likes of Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano have privately asked Sergio Aguero about what he is like.
Winning five Premier League titles, one Champions League, two FA Cup trophies, one UEFA Super Cup and four Carabao Cups during his time in the first-team, Foden has played a crucial role in most of his boyhood club’s incredible success over the years.
When quizzed about Phil Foden, Steve Bruce praised his talent and the fact that he has become a first-team regular in a squad as elite as Pep Guardiola has had at his disposal for years.
“Let’s be fair, the kid has held his own now for four, five years now. 150 times, he’s played for Man City and he’s only 22, 23. Wonderful footballer, blessed with real natural abilities. So, it doesn’t surprise us that he [Pep Guardiola] keeps picking him every week because he’s such an outstanding talent”, he told Stadium Astro.
“Look, if you’re a young player, you have to be an exceptionally good footballer to break into that Man City squad.”
Not often spoken about enough when it comes to the rise of Phil Foden
Steve Bruce has hit the nail on the head as often, the fact that Phil Foden is even a key player at Manchester City is not hailed as much as it perhaps should be as a ridiculously impressive achievement,
The decorated attacker has managed to grow in stature by exhibiting his versatility in adapting to different roles from a young age.
If that is not enough of a challenge, Foden has also had to compete with world-class players week in, and week out to stake a claim in City’s starting XI, with the pressure of winning silverware every season.
The fact that Phil Foden has seemingly embraced this pressure and is only getting better and better is highly praiseworthy.
