Sneaky Phil Foden moment vs Atletico shows he can be Man City's Champions League talisman
After Phil Foden's introduction in the first leg of Manchester City's Champions League quarter-final battle with Atletico Madrid, it was no surprise he started the second leg and no surprise he was targeted by relentless Atleti challenges.
Maybe in the past, Foden would have reacted to the physical attention he received from the start at the Wanda Metropolitano. But he kept his head, bandaged after a challenge from Felipe in the first half, and had the last laugh as Atletico lost their cool and Felipe was sent off.
Foden has been credited — or blamed, depending on your allegiance — for sparking the late brawl on the pitch after he was fouled by Felipe and then shouted at by Stefan Savic. As Atletico were building up momentum, Foden's sneaky roll back onto the pitch might have been a match-winning moment for City. His grin shortly after next to an angry Diego Simeone sums up his new-found attitude that should make him undroppable in the semi-final vs Real Madrid.
ALSO READ: Koke claims Man City behaviour prompted 'madness' in Atletico Madrid game
"He's feeling it after the game," said John Stones of Foden, who incredibly was only awarded one free kick in the game, when Felipe barged through him and escaped without a booking.
But it was the late incident with the same player, who had finally got his yellow card by that point, as Foden chased down a lost cause to force Felipe into a sliding tackle to clear. As Foden jumped over the tackle, Felipe lost his head and kicked out at Foden as he landed.
Foden, who went down just off the pitch, cleverly rolled back onto the pitch to slow the game down. Whether it was that action — or just having the audacity to be kicked by Felipe — that angered Savic, the former City