Remember me, boss? Foden reminds Pep of his magic as Man City breeze past Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Whatever the lyrics of the song devoted to him, Phil Foden has not been on fire. But as he rediscovered his spark in the Mancunian rain, Pep Guardiola’s gamble paid off. Manchester City retained their interest in the title race and head to the FA Cup final with fresher legs after Guardiola rested, rotated and recorded a comfortable win.

It is a sign of how Foden’s star has waned that he figured in the weakened team. Footballer of the Year in 2024, he is Rayan Cherki’s understudy in 2026. He still has not scored in the calendar year, but when City looked stifled by Crystal Palace’s obduracy, he conjured a gorgeous assist.

City are rewarding a player who has had consecutive disappointing seasons with a new four-year contract but Foden offered an illustration why. “You need quality, not [something from] the tactical board, or meetings or training,” said Guardiola. Foden obliged. He oozed class in a glorious quarter of an hour at the end of the first half, which proved decisive. “He felt how people love him with the standing ovation,” added his manager. That reception may help restore him to prominence. “It has to be a big role in the future,” said Guardiola.

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Phil Foden was the architect as Man City closed the gap on Arsenal (Getty)

If his status has been diminished this season, Foden had a huge input here. So maybe making six changes comes with less risk for Guardiola than most managers; they, after all, do not have the luxury of talents such as Foden in reserve. Guardiola replaced his top scorer, Erling Haaland, with a strike duo. Each of them struck, Antoine Semenyo’s first goal in six games being followed by Omar Marmoush’s second in as many matches. The Egyptian, like Foden, may not start against Chelsea on Saturday. But if the stakes were high here, City warmed up for Wembley with a rematch of last season’s FA Cup final, albeit with a very different outcome.

Palace were nevertheless awkward opponents; City may hope they are again when they host Arsenal on the final day. Oliver Glasner may have named his strongest available side, apart from Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr, whereas there was no pretence Guardiola did. After 30 minutes, the temptation was to wonder if he had raised the white flag in the title race.

And yet Mikel Arteta may realise that he cannot shake City off that easily. Arsenal still have the most points, but Savinho’s late goal means City have the advantage on goal difference, now 43 to the good. Guardiola did not introduce Haaland to boost his tally. Instead, the substitute Cherki made the third. “Three goals against Brentford, three goals here, I cannot ask for more,” Guardiola said.

Foden’s drought now extends to 28 games but he nevertheless made two goals; the first with a sublime touch, the second perhaps in more fortunate fashion. City had not even mustered an attempt on target in the first third of the game. Then Semenyo angled a shot beyond Dean Henderson. It was, though, more about the pass, a wonderful, defence-splitting backheel from Foden. Palace had defended expertly until a moment of brilliance. “You see the first goal, the quality they have,” said Glasner. It was a reminder that Foden’s best is still outstanding.

The unexpected element was that he was playing as a central midfielder, partnering Bernardo Silva in the heart of Guardiola’s 4-2-2-2 formation. He still had a licence to roam, and he used it intelligently. “It is not about laziness or not running, he is running all the time and helps Bernie and then without ball we want [him] close to the box,” explained Guardiola. “He is unique close to the box.”

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Antoine Semenyo scored the opener for City (Reuters)

When City doubled their lead, Foden took down Josko Gvardiol’s long ball in such a way it fell for Marmoush to spin and finish. Perhaps beating Henderson brought the Egyptian revenge for the goalkeeper’s penalty save in last year’s FA Cup final.

Foden was the catalyst again when City almost had a third: he crossed, Gvardiol met it with a header and Henderson pushed it on to the post. The Croatian was a shock inclusion, making his first appearance for more than four months. “I was surprised as well,” he admitted.

Nico O’Reilly, Jeremy Doku and Cherki were among those stood down, though the Frenchman came off the bench, surged 40 yards and picked out the previously disappointing Savinho to finish for his belated first league goal of the season.

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Omar Mamoush doubled City’s lead before half-time (Reuters)

It meant the end was very different from the start, when City seemed to lack cohesion and creativity. Palace, however, looked potent. Jean-Philippe Mateta seemed to score inside two minutes, but his supplier, Brennan Johnson, was offside. It had appeared a devastating break by Palace and Glasner’s side brimmed with counter-attacking menace.

Thereafter, Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make a couple of saves but Glasner conceded: “We have to accept that City were too good for us.” A defence including Palace’s FA Cup-winning captain, Marc Guehi, kept a third clean sheet in four league games; how they must rue the other match, last week’s 3-3 draw at Everton.

As one centre-back has arrived, another is going. There were plenty of choruses about the departing John Stones, who came on for a cameo. It may prove his final appearance at the Etihad Stadium after a decade. There will surely be one more for Silva, though Haaland joined in the rousing ovation for the captain when he went off. With Silva on the bench, Stones finished the game in the centre of the midfield. But the most pertinent performance there was Foden’s. “He is a box-to-box player with incredible attributes,” said Guardiola. So he showed.