Yahoo Sports Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne – or both? Guardiola has a welcome dilemma on his hands
Phil Foden will have noted that the loudest cheer of Saturday afternoon didn’t follow Manchester City’s two goals but the sight of Kevin De Bruyne warming up on the touchline.
In the end, Pep Guardiola resisted the temptation to give the Belgium international a few minutes of action after four months out following surgery on a hamstring.
De Bruyne is likely to make his comeback instead in Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Championship side Huddersfield and his return will provide Guardiola with a selection dilemma for the second half of the season: who becomes his No.1 playmaker?
Foden has relished the opportunity to play in the role that he and many other believe suits his considerable talents – as City’s No. 10 rather than in a wide area.
He has stepped up his game impressively since De Bruyne limped off after only 23 minutes of the opening Premier League game of the season, at Burnley back in August.
Foden has played more games than any other City player this season: Saturday was his 29th in all competitions. He has scored nine and his assists for the goals scored by Rodri and Julian Alvarez that broke Sheffield United’s stubborn resistance took his total to eight.
It is his ability to operate in tight spaces with his close control, movement on the half turn and game intelligence that makes him such an integral part of City’s team, especially against teams like Sheffield United, who sit back and try to close the spaces with a well-organised defensive plan.
Guardiola said Foden was distraught after conceding the added-time penalty that allowed Crystal Palace to snatch an unlikely draw in City’s previous home game.
He has certainly made amends in the four games since. The two wins in Saudi Arabia secured the Club World Cup title followed by two important victories in the Premier League that have put City right back in the running for a fourth successive Premier League title.
“Since the Crystal Palace game, Phil has learned his lesson,” said the City manager. “He’s so young, he felt guilty giving away the penalty and wanted to solve it.
“It’s all part of the learning process. At that moment he felt so bad but he is an incredibly lovely guy. They were lessons to learn and hopefully it’s the last time it happens.
“In all four games against Urawa Red Diamonds, Fluminense, Everton and Sheffield United he has been outstanding, scoring and assisting goals. We needed to be aggressive in the pockets [of space] against Sheffield and Phil is good for that.”
Foden’s two assists on Saturday underlined the variety of his talents. Under pressure, he produced the perfect lay-off from Manuel Akanji’s pass that allowed Rodri to drive forward into the space behind before powering home City’s first after 14 minutes.
And in the second half, after a clever pass by substitute Oscar Bobb released him into the penalty area, he delivered a beautifully weighted low cross to the far post for Alvarez to slide in an easy second that ensured City finish a momentous year on a high.
Midfield anchorman Rodri said: “Phil has incredible ability to turn so fast with the ball. We had to be patient but he is a game-changer. He increased the pace and he can shoot and pass.”
De Bruyne joined in the applause as he went through his warm-up exercises but Guardiola erred on the side of caution and will give the 32-year-old another week of training before re-introducing him.
“It’s been four months since he was here so it’s a long time but he is close,” he said. “We wanted him in the locker room again. He is training good and he will start to get minutes to get back to his best. It’s incredible news.”
After so long out, De Bruyne will take time to get up to full speed but with Foden in such fine form Guardiola has no need to rush him back. But when he has found his game rhythm and is back to his best it will be fascinating to see how the City manager configures his team.
Whatever the plan, the prospect of Foden and De Bruyne unlocking defences together is an ominous one for the rest of the Premier League.
