Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about Phil Foden's role in the 3-0 Premier League win over Brentford
Savinho, Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush
Savinho, Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush
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Pep Guardiola said that Phil Foden looked like his old self after he came off the bench to help Manchester City beat Brentford 3-0 at the Etihad. The midfielder was brought on for Tijjani Reijnders in a double attacking change and saw Jeremy Doku score the opening goal seconds after coming onto the pitch.
That could have been a problem for City as they looked to see the game out, but Foden sat alongside Bernardo Silva to screen the defence - playing deeper than he normally would - while also using his running to help out in the attack. It took a terrific instinctive save from Caoimhin Kelleher to deny the 25-year-old a goal and he also won possession back on a number of occasions.
In what has been a difficult few months for Foden on the pitch with starts in the Premier League hard to come by, City have backed the academy product by agreeing a new contract to keep him at the club for four more years. Guardiola praised the midfielder's work with Silva to ensure that City got over the line in a game they had to win.
"With 0-0 in those positions, we needed the sense of creativity and the effort of Phil playing holding midfielder with Bernardo is unusual for him," the City boss said. "He made an incredible effort and helped us a lot and kept the ball and also Phil has that dynamic that is able to help Bernie in the process and after when Jeremy has the ball, he is in the box.
"Phil has this incredible quality. He could have scored two goals and this is the Phil that has been and we have seen for many, many years."