"This season he is back." So said a delighted Pep Guardiola as he reflected on a brilliant individual display from Phil Foden in Manchester City's 4-1 UEFA Champions League victory against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
With his first double in the competition, Foden was on the scoresheet in the Champions League for the first time in exactly a year, though for UEFA Technical Observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær it was also with his excellent work between the lines that Foden illuminated this Matchday 4 contest.
As it happened: Man City 4-1 Dortmund
The following analysis, brought to you by FedEx, highlights his ability to find space and Guardiola himself ran through Foden's repertoire of "playing between the lines, in the pockets, his first touch, his turn" – all of which are visible in the video below, featuring his two goals.
In the Zone: Foden sharpness in pockets
The art of playing between the lines was the subject of this recent analysis of Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler and Foden offered his own interpretation of the role on Wednesday night. "Foden was excellent between the lines, showing how to play as a No10 with his movement to get on the ball behind the Dortmund midfielders," explained Solskjær. "And with Erling Haaland occupying the Dortmund defence they couldn’t get one of their centre-backs to step up on him."
FedEx Performance Zone
Solskjær noted how Foden sees spaces behind the central midfielders, helped by his "side-on" body angle.
According to Foden himself, speaking to TNT Sports, a key component when playing in tight spaces is "always checking over my shoulder". Hence, as he said of his second goal: "I knew what I was going to do before I got the ball because I'd seen the space and seen where the defender was. I like that back-foot receive and trying to get the shot away."
"He 'passes' the ball into the net with a similar technique to a cross, David Beckham-style."
Ole Gunnar Solskjær on Foden's shooting style, brought to you by FedEx.