Rio Ferdinand hails ‘mesmeric’ Phil Foden after Man City star’s cameo against Atletico Madrid

Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for Phil Foden after the Manchester City star came off to bench to help his side earn a narrow 1-0 over Atletico Madrid.

The Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Etihad was incredibly tight, as the Spanish came to sit back and frustrate their opponents from the very first whistle.

When Foden was introduced after 68 minutes, it was still goalless. City had the lead 80 seconds later.

Foden picked up the ball, drew four defenders and then slid a perfect pass through to Kevin De Bruyne who did the rest, as Atletico’s previously impenetrable backline was opened up.

“When you have an artist like Phil Foden posing a different threat, it is difficult to adjust to during the game when you have planned for something different,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“Foden was mesmeric at times.

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