“No way,” says Foden as he is told which legend Pep compared him to
PHIL FODEN is used to being compared to Barcelona legends.
Ever since he burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old, people have affectionately called him the ‘Stockport Iniesta’.
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Yet there was an even bigger compliment from former Nou Camp coach Pep Guardiola in the aftermath of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
The Etihad chief mentioned Foden in the same sentence as the great Lionel Messi – for his developing talent of being a match-winner.
Guardiola was quick to point out that he does not yet put the English star on the same level as his old Barca favorite.
After all, he does not believe that anyone currently playing at the top level comes even close to the Argentine World Cup winner from his heyday.
But it was still the highest praise as he called the City midfielder the best player in the Premier League.
And after his two second-half goals turned the game in his team’s favor as they won 3-1 at the Etihad, it’s hard to argue with that.
Guardiola said: “With the good players – and with Messi I met the greatest player ever – you can play well, but you have to win games.
“I don’t want to compare, because Phil is not at the level of Leo. He can do everything, but he also wins games.”
When told what his boss had said, Foden told Viaplay: “No way!
“I want to be that player who wins games for the team – and appears in the biggest games. You can’t compare anyone to Messi, he is in his own world.
“But to hear something like that from the manager is very nice.”
Even from a young age, coaches who worked with Foden saw comparisons with Leo Messi.
Former City Academy director Steve Eyre told talkSPORT: “I have only seen Lionel Messi get better – in terms of the balance that sets him apart.
“Now that Foden’s legs and hips have become thicker, it is not so easy to hit the ball. But if it ever hits the ground, it bounces right back up. He can still get much better.”
It was in Tokyo, during City’s summer tour, that Foden first spoke of his desire to be the main man at the club.
He has been learning his trade – since his breakthrough six seasons ago – in the shadow of players like David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.
But he longed for the chance to play at center and said that position would allow him to showcase more of his dazzling skills.
And when De Bruyne was given that opportunity due to his hamstring operation, he stepped effortlessly and enthusiastically into the gap left by the Belgian maestro.
Now that KDB is back, Foden is spending more time away from home.
But the confidence he gained during his excellent season is still evident. And one of the reasons why Guardiola rates Foden as the best is his versatility: he can be effective on the wing or in the middle.
The Prem is packed with superstars, but few can offer that kind of brilliance in different positions.
He also scores goals: eighteen means he has already enjoyed his best season ever and that there could be another nineteen games to come.
He will certainly be involved in the presentation of the individual prizes later this spring.
What is clear is that City’s boy wonder has matured in recent months, and the Treble winners are reaping the benefits.
‘I WANT TO SCORE EVEN MORE’
Foden, who won the Premier League player of the match award in Sunday’s Manchester derby, added: “I’ve been practicing my finishing this year – quite a lot after training. But I want to be that player who wins the big games for the team.
“I now have a good series of matches. I seem to be starting a lot more and I think that helps you find your feet. I want to be involved in goals and always be in the box.
“It’s going well this year and I want to score even more.
“I just think I’ve grown as a player. Every year I have worked hard on the training field and now I get the reward I deserve.”
With that in mind, you may be seeing a lot more of Foden’s ‘sniper’ celebration in the coming weeks (and seasons).
He added: “It’s actually a joke from the boys. They say I shoot a lot during training and they call me The Sniper. It’s my party now. I like to do it.”
