In a revelation that is set to ignite debate amongst the Etihad faithful, Manchester City icon Ricky Hatton has delivered his ultimate verdict on the club's two shining stars. The former boxing world champion, a lifelong Blue, has boldly claimed that homegrown talent Phil Foden possesses a footballing prowess that even the goal-machine Erling Haaland cannot match.
Hatton's comments come not from a place of criticism for the Norwegian striker, whose record-breaking goal tally speaks for itself, but from sheer admiration for the technical mastery of Stockport's own Foden. He argues that while Haaland's finishing is peerless, Foden's all-round game elevates him to a different level.
More Than Just Goals: The Foden Doctrine
"We’ve got the best striker in the world but for me, Phil Foden is the best footballer in the team," stated Hatton, leaving no room for ambiguity. He elaborated, painting a picture of two different types of excellence: "Erling Haaland’s finishing is out of this world. But Phil’s technical ability, the way he handles the ball, his passing, his vision… for the all-round game, Phil has got the lot."
This endorsement highlights a crucial distinction between a pure finisher and a complete footballer. Hatton sees Foden as the engine, the creator, and the virtuoso who makes the team tick, a talent so refined that he leaves even the most seasoned observers in awe.
Guardiola's Genius and a City Legacy
The boxing legend also reserved significant praise for the architect of City's modern dominance, manager Pep Guardiola. He credited the Spaniard with transforming the club's identity and elevating them to a global footballing superpower, a status Hatton believes is now their permanent reality.
Reflecting on the club's journey, he added: "What Pep has done is incredible. He’s taken the club to another level. We were always a club with a fantastic fanbase but we were in the shadows of United for many years. Now, we are the team to beat."
At the heart of this success story is Phil Foden—a symbol of the club's thriving academy and a player who embodies the technical, possession-based philosophy instilled by Guardiola. For a fan like Hatton, who has witnessed the club's entire evolution, Foden represents the beautiful culmination of a long-term project.
