Wonderkid Foden ready for a clash of two Cities

Life can be tough, right? “He can’t do as much fishing as he’d like to these days because of work and the child back home.” This is the sort of thing you’d expect to hear about a middle-aged man working long hours to provide for his family. But it’s actually about Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

Despite only being 20 years old, the young gun of English football has already achieved quite a few things in life. He became a professional footballer for the club that he supports, he’s already got a few winners’ medals in his collection and he’s been capped by his country. Oh, yes, he did enter the goalscoring charts for England as well. But his professional achievements, as impressive as they are, can’t compare to the little reward he’s got at home – a baby boy.

Of course, this isn’t a story about a professional footballer who’s also a father. There are many of those. But Phil Foden is special. Don’t take our word for it, either. It’s Pep Guardiola who said that three years ago, when Phil was just 17. Even then it was clear.

"I think he is a special player. The national team is playing him as a wing-back, or a winger on the right, even though he’s more of a midfielder, but even in that position he plays well.

Foden is blossoming under manager Pep Guardiola (©Reuters)

In the meantime, the starlet has become a full professional and established himself as a first-team regular. He benefited immensely from working with Guardiola, a coach who’s seen his share of prodigious talent at all his previous clubs. Competing for places with world-class midfielders at City shaped Foden both as a man and as a footballer. His recent man-of-the-match display in the victory over Liverpool at Anfield prompted his boss to heap more praise on him, but to also make sure the youngster stays focused.

“His mentality is so good. He is always focused and there is always a feeling he can do something when he is close to the box. Man City fans have a guy who has come from our Academy and grew up supporting this club and now he is a top player for us. He is a joy. He knows that, at this level, it’s about performing every day. That’s why the greatest players are not about one fine night at Anfield or some good games. They are about five years in a row staying consistent. This is the next target for Phil. Reaching it will depend on his humility and love for the game. The expectations are there - we will see if he can handle it.”

Keeping his feet on the ground was always going to be hugely important for a talented player who’s enjoying a dizzying rise in the game. Phil doesn’t seem like a lad whose head could be easily turned by flashy cars, parties and similar things usually associated with the young and popular. The Stockport-born millennial’s favourite hobby is a quiet and a rather old-fashioned one – he enjoys fishing.

“It’s good for clearing your head after you’ve had a bad game. I’ve found it the solution to everything. If there are a few problems you’re having, you just go fishing and clear your head. I’ve just found it the perfect way to get away from everything, from football, so when I’m in a situation like that I’ll find a way to go.”

Phil Foden has already scored twice for the England national team (©Reuters)

Fatherhood has changed Foden’s life for the better, as his teammates predicted it would, but it is not without its challenges. Fishing trips have become fewer, for a start. But he counts himself lucky to be doing what he loves and playing for the Club he supported as a boy, but, as with any job, there are consequences for his home life, he admits in a conversation for Manchester City’s website.

“There are things you miss when you’re not there because you’ve got an away game. I was there when my son Ronny started crawling, but I think I was in London when he started to walk. It’s unfortunate to miss things like that but it’s a sacrifice that he’ll appreciate when he’s older.”

Whatever the sacrifices he’s been making – it shows on the pitch. He is what every football fan dreams of witnessing – a fellow fan who grows up at the club and becomes a true winner.

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Being a winner means being ready for every match and realizing that there is no such thing as “big” and “small” competitions not there are “important” and “ordinary” matches. He’ll have another chance to prove himself when Manchester City travel to Wales to face in-form Swansea City in the FA Cup.

The Swans boss Steve Cooper has been enjoying a fine season as the Welsh team remains one of the favourites to get promoted to the Premier League. Facing the leaders of the country’s top division might be just what his team needs to get their levels up as the season approaches its business end.

“We have to be perfect, there’s no doubt about that, and hope they’re not. When we get opportunities to play, we have to commit to it. We’ve got to be perfect with our game and hope they’re not but we won’t be doing anything too different.”

These two clubs met in the FA Cup in 2019 and served up a thrilling match. The Swans stunned Guardiola and his stars by racing into a 2-0 lead but were ultimately beaten 3-2 with Sergio Aguero hitting a late winner. The Argentine striker is still out through injury, but Pep will have his young gun Foden to rely on.

FA CUP Fifth Round

Tuesday

Burnley - Bournemouth 0-2 (0-1)

/Surridge 21’, Stanislas 88’ pen/

Manchester United - West Ham United 1-0 (0-0) AET

/McTominay 97’/

Wednesday

20.30: (10.0) Swansea City (6.50) Manchester City (1.28)

22.30: (1.95) Leicester City (3.45) Brighton & Hove Albion (4.00)

22.30: (1.70) Sheffield United (3.60) Bristol City (4.40)

23.15: (2.80) Everton (2.95) Tottenham (2.80)

Thursday

20.30: (2.50) Wolverhampton (3.10) Southampton (3.00)

23.00: (8.00) Barnsley (5.30) Chelsea (1.35)

***odds are subject to change