Gary Lineker praises the “exceptionally brilliant” Phil Foden following Manchester City’s victory over Copenhagen. Despite earning £225,000 per week (according to Sport Rac), Foden’s impact extended beyond his goal in the 92nd minute when he converted Kevin De Bruyne’s cut-back.
While acknowledging the team’s solid, if unspectacular, performance against Copenhagen, Lineker specifically commends Foden for his outstanding contribution. Rio Ferdinand also highlights Foden as Manchester City’s standout player throughout the season, emphasizing his importance to the team.
Lineker describes Foden as “outrageously brilliant,” a sentiment echoed by Ferdinand, who notes Foden’s consistent excellence on the field. Foden’s versatility is highlighted, with his adeptness in both traditional right-wing and central positions causing problems for Copenhagen. His technical prowess, intelligent passing, and quick thinking make him a constant threat, earning him accolades from Lineker for being a joy to watch.
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‘You’d walk there’… Wayne Rooney admits he would absolutely love to work with £378,000-a-week Man City man
Wayne Rooney has expressed his openness to the idea of serving as the assistant manager under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. This revelation comes in the wake of John Eustance’s departure from Birmingham City, which left the team in a relegation battle after Rooney took charge.
Currently without a managerial position, Rooney admitted on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast that if given the chance to work alongside Guardiola, he would embrace the opportunity. In his own words, “It depends [on if I would ever be an assistant manager]. If Pep Guardiola comes in and asks me to be his assistant, you’d walk there.” Rooney acknowledged the influence of managers like Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, suggesting that learning from their approaches could contribute to his own development as a manager.
Rooney’s potential collaboration with Guardiola, a controversial prospect considering his legendary status at Manchester United, where he is often hailed as one of the club’s greatest-ever players, reflects his eagerness to refine his managerial skills. Despite the historic rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City, Rooney’s acknowledgment of Guardiola’s managerial prowess underscores the profound impact the latter has in the world of football management.
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Pep Guardiola’s strongest Man City XI for pivotal Arsenal clash with five players currently injured
Manchester City is amidst a remarkable season, poised for a potential back-to-back treble, an unprecedented feat. However, achieving this goal won’t come easy, especially with the intense competition in the Premier League title race. Pep Guardiola’s squad finds themselves locked in a tight battle with Liverpool and Arsenal.
Currently trailing the top two teams by just one point, City faces a crucial opportunity to surpass Arsenal in the standings during their upcoming clash on Sunday, a match of immense significance.
Having suffered defeat against Arsenal earlier in the season, City anxiously awaits the fitness status of five key players leading up to the match.
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Stuart Pearce admits he’s spotted one worrying weakness where Man City can ‘get done’
Stuart Pearce has identified a potential vulnerability in Manchester City’s gameplay despite their recent win against Brentford. While City secured a narrow victory after a disappointing draw with Chelsea, Pearce observed a pattern in recent performances.
In an interview with TalkSport, Pearce expressed his concern, stating, “They are too composed on the ball, not giving it away easily. They lure you into chasing, and then they turn and move beyond you. It resembles a basketball defense, defending the goal area while allowing width. However, in both the Chelsea game and yesterday’s match, City has shown susceptibility to being exploited behind.”
Pearce elaborated, “They play with a relatively high line during turnovers, and Brentford missed a couple of chances in the first half. Teams with pace and the ability to break City’s press quickly can expose this vulnerability.”
While City’s recent win elevated them to second place, just one point behind Liverpool, Pearce highlighted instances where opponents have exploited their high defensive line. He pointed out the challenges City faced against Wolves earlier in the season and how Chelsea scored by capitalizing on defensive lapses.
Although City’s pressing game is formidable, Pearce emphasized that teams capable of repeatedly breaking through and exploiting their defensive line with speed have found success. Despite occasional vulnerabilities, City’s overall dominance and pressing prowess make it challenging for opponents to capitalize consistently.
