Manchester City managed to get back on track last night as they beat Nottingham Forest – and they did it without Phil Foden.
Manchester City ended their winless run, beating the Reds 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium in a much more convincing performance.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring early on to set City on the right path, and then Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku added further goals for a badly needed three points.
With Liverpool drawing against Newcastle United, it was a good night for the club, and the hope is that Pep Guardiola has now found a much better formula.
Jack Grealish played in the middle and Guardiola raved about him after the game – and the comments he made might just be cause for concern for Phil Foden.
What Guardiola said about Grealish
Manchester City's Manager Josep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Etihad Stadium on ...
Photo by Dave Howarth – CameraSportvia Getty Images
Since he signed in the summer of 2021, Grealish has played almost exclusively as a left winger for City.
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The initial plan had been to use him as a number eight, but that never materialised and Grealish has pretty much always played from the left.
But he looked really good centrally last night, and some have already been talking about that being a more regular position for him.
Guardiola said after the game last night: “Played really good, played in the middle, was involved in many things and hopefully, if I decide to play him in that position, can be involved in the final third, being decisive in the passes and the goals and the assists.”
“But he gave us what we need, our football was always built in the midfield, the quality that makes our tempo and the glimpses of speed that we make outside and in the way you have to play and after the glimpses of speed from outside, but the control of the game, Jack [Grealish] gives us that pace, when to accelerate, how to add more control, he played brilliantly, I’m so happy for him.”
Phil Foden may now be worried
So Guardiola really liked Grealish in the midfield for City – and the comments are bound to have been seen by Phil Foden.
Foden was not in the squad last night having suffered illness, and it’s a setback that could actually prove quite costly.
Foden has been nowhere near the level he showed last season, and has still yet to open his account in the Premier League this term. The 2023/24 Player of the Season just hasn’t been able to have the same kind of influence this time around.
He came into the new campaign without a pre-season and was also ill in the opening weeks. But Foden has been in the starting XI for weeks now and hasn’t produced.
Interestingly, he’s been playing in his favoured central role for the most part.
Phil Foden for Man City this season
Appearances – 17
Minutes played – 1150
Goals – 3
Assists – 2
Foden has said previously that he loves playing as a number 10, because of the freedom it permits him compared to playing out wide.
But last night, City looked really good without him and with Grealish in there instead – although he did play more as an eight rather than and out-an-out number 10. He provided the control that has been absent for weeks, and that Guardiola craves.
Without a doubt, Foden’s standing weakened last night and he’ll potentially now have to try and respond with a top performance off the bench, or perhaps make do playing on the right wing.
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