Phil Foden scored his first Premier League goal on Saturday, a diving header that secured a 1-0 win over Tottenham and moved Manchester City closer to the title. The 18-year-old's performance drew praise from both his manager, Pep Guardiola, and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who compared him to City playmaker David Silva.
Guardiola has been criticised for not rushing Foden's development, but the Catalan reiterated that the youngster must prove himself worthy of a starting spot. 'He has to fight Fernandinho and Silva. He has to beat Gundogan. He has to run and run and run to convince me he can play – but I trust him,' Guardiola said, recalling how he first saw Foden at age 15 and immediately recognised his talent.
Pochettino echoed the sentiment, suggesting Foden could be Silva's long-term successor. 'He's a player that can be similar to David Silva. He has the characteristics of a number eight with a lot of good quality to play with the number nine. He is a very clever player,' the Argentine said.
Guardiola noted the contrast with Jack Wilshere, whom he had once said would struggle for game time at Barcelona. 'He's special,' Guardiola said of Foden, adding that while Jadon Sancho left City for more opportunities, Foden must work hard to earn his place in a star-studded squad.
