Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has vowed to keep midfielder Phil Foden at the club for as long as he is the manager.
The 18-year-old scored his first Champions League goal in the 7-0 win over Schalke last night, becoming the youngest player to score for the club in the competition.
Guardiola says Foden is progressing well and he won’t let the player out on loan because he is too valuable for the first team:
“People say Phil Foden doesn’t play too much. He is 18, it is his first season and he plays a lot of minutes already, a lot of games.”
“The people say he should be on loan. Phil Foden is not going to be on loan. As long as I am here he will be close to me because he is an incredibly talented player.
Fans on Twitter were very happy to hear Guardiola’s comments:
Incredible manager ? not many managers focus on young home grown players I only know of Guardiola and poch who do! Best manager in the world no matter where he goes he delivers! Thanks for looking out for our future national team!
— Michael (@MikeRotchburn95) 13 March 2019
He is better off staying at City and learning from the likes of De Bruyne and Silva.
— Mark O’Neill (@MarkCF83THFC) 13 March 2019
He is our future star…
— Elton (@plaas_jappie_) 13 March 2019
Fantastic
— zofoot drame (@zofoot) 13 March 2019
He doesn’t need to go anywhere …he’s with the best manager in the world ?
— Dave Collins (@dcoll1234_dave) 13 March 2019
He’s a class act & he’s English too
— Jon Adaway (@jon_adaway) 13 March 2019
@lindatracey99 going nowhere?
— Jason?? (@roche_jason) 12 March 2019
Amen Pep?
— ben kelly (@benkelly74) 12 March 2019
I hope to see him get more minutes and even a few starts
— Kevin Mahoney (@KevinMa36101816) 13 March 2019
Foden showed why there is so much hype around him with his cameo performance last night. His lack of starts have been the cause of much debate among supporters but a certain amount of patience is required.
At 18, he has time on his side and he is learning from some of the best midfielders in the world in the likes of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.
Even so, Foden has made 23 appearances in all competitions this season, having made eight starts under Guardiola.