The evolution of one Manchester City player has stood out in City’s recent matches | OneFootball

Across the past six matches that Manchester City have played, Phil Foden has been one of City’s best players. Alongside Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku, Foden has been in impressive form. During Manchester City’s 2-all draw with AS Monaco on Wednesday night, it stood out that Foden set the tempo of the match for Pep Guardiola’s side. It now seems that Foden is becoming the midfielder that he has always seemed destined to become.

Manchester City played through Phil Foden against AS Monaco.

As Manchester City drew with AS Monaco at the Stade Louis-II, Jeremy Doku and Savinho on the left wing, and Bernardo Silva on the right wing, couldn’t get into the game. Credit firstly has to go to AS Monaco for keeping those three players quiet. But what was striking was how much City played through Foden in the middle of the pitch.

Phil Foden was the creative fulcrum for Pep Guardiola’s side against AS Monaco. He completed 68/76 passes, and he did strike the woodwork with a shot. Foden also played two key passes, and two of his attempted through balls for Haaland were cut out. If Foden scored, or added an assist, his performance against AS Monaco would’ve received more plaudits. But it did seem that City played through Foden in midfield, and that was refreshing to see.

Pep Guardiola believes that Phil Foden is one of his team’s most important players in the final third.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League fixture against Brentford, Pep Guardiola told the media that Foden’s creativity in the final third is crucial to his team. Speaking on Foden’s creativity, Guardiola said: “He’s one of the best players we have in small spaces in the final third, by far. In terms of assists and in terms of goals in small spaces, how he times an attack and the desire to score a goal is the best we have.”

It did seem that Manchester City played through Phil Foden against AS Monaco. As Pep Guardiola pointed out, with Foden’s ability to score or create for his team, it may be something we see with regularity this season. Phil Foden has always seemed to be destined to become the creative hub for his team. He may be becoming exactly that this season.