In a dramatic Premier League showdown at Etihad Stadium, Phil Foden delivered a masterclass performance that secured Manchester City’s crucial 3-2 victory over Leeds United on Saturday. The English midfielder netted twice, including a spectacular stoppage-time winner, demonstrating his growing importance to the squad as star striker Erling Haaland extends his goalless streak to three consecutive matches.
Manager Pep Guardiola lavished praise on the 25-year-old phenomenon, describing him as ‘a gift’ to manage and highlighting his extraordinary development since joining the club as a teenager. ‘This season has been the Phil we met a long, long time ago,’ Guardiola reflected. ‘When he arrived at 16, 17 years old at the training sessions, it was, ‘Oh my God, what a player.”
The victory comes at a critical juncture for City, who suffered recent defeats against Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen despite Haaland’s league-leading 14 goals this season. Guardiola emphasized Foden’s tactical flexibility and winning mentality as key differentiators: ‘Some players when the situation is uncomfortable, they make a step back. Phil is completely the opposite. He says, ‘Give me the ball because I want to dribble, I want to score, I want to win the game.”
Foden’s resurgence has earned him a recall to the England national team for the first time since March, with both Guardiola and England manager Thomas Tuchel agreeing that his optimal position lies centrally behind the striker. ‘A guy who has this sense of goal has to be close to the ball,’ Guardiola affirmed, acknowledging Foden’s evolving role as a creative and scoring threat.
The performance signals a potential strategic shift for City, suggesting reduced dependency on Haaland’s scoring prowess as Foden continues to demonstrate his capacity to deliver decisive moments in high-pressure situations.