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News Mania Desk/ Sohom Chatterjee / 21st September 2024

Manchester City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips recently spoke highly about the impact of young midfielder Phil Foden in both England national team and City team.

The Sky Blues will be hosting their recent rivals and title contenders Arsenal on Sunday in their fifth game of the new Premier League season. The match at the Etihad Stadium will be kicking off at 9 pm IST.

Prior to the match, the former City player has shared what he thinks about the 24-year-old English sensation. Speaking at the Star Sports Press Room, Wright-Phillips said, “First of all, I think they play completely differently. I think it might be different now under Lee Carsley, but if you look at the way City plays, I think they keep the ball so well that it allows for those attacking three, four, or five players to rotate positions and find better spaces. So, if one’s not open, the boys are comfortable enough to come out, go back out the other way, and it gives them time to then find another space, which may be big enough. You can see when that space is big enough because as soon as you get the ball to Phil, he’ll turn and go.”

“We watched him do it against Inter Milan when he came on Saturday–gave him the ball, turned and went, got a foul. In many ways, he’s so unpredictable because he’ll just play that simple pass. When you give him that ball, when you think you’ve given him two yards, that’s not enough for him. That’s too much to give a player like Phil Foden because once he’s turned, his first four steps are so quick out of the traps, and that’s all he needs to let fly or put in a nice ball,” he added.

The 42-year-old also claimed that unsung City star, Rodri should win the Ballon d’Or this year as he has consistently proven his intelligence and positional awareness on the pitch. On top of that, his ability to contribute both defensively and offensively has also been appreciated by the former City man. He said, “For me, Rodri. What can you say about the man? I watch him so many times, and you never see him sprint. For me, if I can see somebody in that position who is never sprinting, that tells you how good his brain is in terms of knowing where the play is going to break down, where he needs to be to either give a foul or slow them down to get the team back, or even to receive the ball. I think as well as he defends, people forget how well he attacks for a holding midfielder.”

Some of the goals he scored last year and the year before were massively important. Some of the passes he puts into Kyle Walker on the overlap, over the back of the left-back, are brilliant. Then, when he plays for his country, he plays exactly the same way. What he’s helped City achieve–he’s probably the longest-standing player to play and just not lose, just win everything. For me, how can you not give it to him?” Shaun concluded.