The victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals not only proves the worth of Phil Foden to Manchester City’s side but also how he can be the solution to their goalscoring woes.
The Manchester club have netted just 19 goals in the league so far this season, the lowest tally in the top half, and, as a result, currently sit as low as eighth.
Yet, in contrasting fashion to the season so far, in the victory over Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s side were ruthless, creative and unstoppable going forward. The man at the centre of this re-born clinical side, you may ask? 20-year-old Phil Foden.
Foden the Solution to Manchester City’s Goalscoring Woes
Foden Must Be a Starter in Manchester City’s Side
Over the years, many have run out of words to describe the football played by Manchester City under Pep Guardiola as they cut apart team after team like a non-stop merciless footballing machine.
Even last season, when they were blown away by Liverpool in the title race, goals were at the centre of their work. The fact is, defensively, you could sense weakness, but, the last thing one would expect from this Manchester City side is for the goals to dry up. But they have.
They say to expect the unexpected, and perhaps Guardiola should have done in the summer when searching for reinforcements. This season has seen the Manchester club solve a problem at one end, but fail to act on an emerging issue at the other. Crucially, however, Foden can act as a solution to this new-found problem.
First, though, Foden must become a permanent fixture in Manchester City’s strongest line-up to add some creativity but to also, perhaps more importantly, free up the ever-impressive Kevin De Bruyne.
Guardiola Must Combine De Bruyne and Foden
By starting both the young Englishman and Belgian, Guardiola’s side is almost guaranteed to make chances from midfield. With just De Bruyne starting, the responsibility relies solely on him to create.
And teams have realised this; they know that, by stopping the threat of De Bruyne, you also slow the ruthless machine of Guardiola’s side.
Add Phil Foden to the mix, however, and the machine continues to work without faltering; teams are left deciding who to mark out of the game, and Manchester City are left with not one, but two, creative geniuses on the pitch.
The most recent game against Arsenal is a perfect example of Foden’s ever-increasing ability. The Englishman assisted the first goal before adding the third with a finely executed dink over the on-rushing Alex Runarsson.
It was a night which reminded everyone, including Guardiola, of Foden’s importance to this Manchester City side for many years to come. The midfielder is proving with every game that he is perfectly capable of being a permanent fixture in Manchester City’s strongest starting line-up.
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