It is no secret how highly Pep Guardiola rates Phil Foden. The Manchester City manager took what was at that point the unusual step of keeping the Stockport-born youngster at City when he was a teenager, to keep a close eye on how he was progressing.
His lack of game time in the 2018/19 campaign saw pundits foam at the mouth as they called for him to go out and gain regular minutes in a first team environment.
Guardiola would not budge and his decision has paid off. Foden has become as close as you can be to being a regular at the Etihad Stadium. ALSO READ: Two City players struggle for England His path to this level has not come without criticism, though.
The 22-year-old was slated earlier in the campaign for failing to play the final pass to Erling Haaland — though that has been rectified now and both men have been flourishing since.