In-form Phil Foden scored a hat-trick for Manchester City right when they needed his scintillating performance in their thumping 4-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa.
Foden enthused that Pep Guardiola had told him to add more rhythm to his game when being engaged in a central position on the pitch for the Blues, something he feels he’s now doing.
The City academy graduate featured most prominently with evidently more than just a touch of artistic flair in the No.10 position that he has since become so comfortable with in Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa, convincingly securing his second hat-trick of the season as the talismanic Kevin De Bruyne was rested alongside Erling Haaland ahead of the engagement with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The magnetic England star had long stated his predisposition and preference to play in the central position despite Guardiola having almost exclusively played him on the flank prior to this campaign after initially deeming him too erratic in the middle. Happily for the young star, this has changed dramatically this season with as he explained how his manager has instructed him to operate in his new role on the pitch.
“I see myself as a really technical player and in the pockets and I think out wide I can do that job, but I think I prefer being in the middle,” Foden told TNT Sports after full-time.
“I think this year I am growing into the game. The manager spoke on showing rhythm and slowing the game down, so I think I have added that to my game now.”
Despite having spectacularly risen again to the occasion and justifiably taking home the match ball against Villa, the big-hearted Foden was selfless in his eagerness to share the accolades with compatriot Rodri, who had opened the goalscoring. He acknowledged that the Spaniard is “100 per cent” the best defensive midfielder in the world, labelling him as Man City’s most important player.
“He can do everything,” said Foden. “He is adding goals to his game, you can see around the box he can dribble. I don’t see a weakness to his game and for me he is our most important player.”