Finn Azaz named Manchester City and England star Phil Foden as the toughest opponent he’s ever faced, admitting he got cramp trying to mark him!
Azaz, who is now a key man at Middlesbrough, played against Foden back in 2021 in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Azaz was on loan at Cheltenham Town from Aston Villa at the time, and lined up on the right wing in the game before being withdrawn in the 81st minute.
The substitution came just as Pep Guardiola’s side equalised through Foden. They went on to score twice more in the final nine minutes to come from behind to beat the League Two side. Azaz, who was 20 at the time, admits marking the City star proved a tough task.
Asked his toughest opponent, Azaz said: “I would probably say it was a few years back when I played against Phil Foden in the FA Cup. He showed the levels that there are. It was a terrible pitch and I remember looking and he was wearing moulds. Just seeing his balance and things like that… I don’t usually get cramp, but I got cramp in that game! That was just from trying to jockey him around!”
Azaz answered the question as he took part in a special press conference with Nunthorpe U12s ahead of the game with another of Azaz’s former sides Plymouth Argyle last month. The event was part of the build-up to their TJFA matchday, celebrating junior teams in Teesside.
In the same press conference, which Jonny Howson also participated in, Azaz was asked what his proudest moment in a Boro short so far was. He said: “I’d probably say, winning player of the month. I was really proud of that award because I know how difficult it is to win that one. To do it in a Boro shirt was special.”