MX23RW : Wednesday, May 15 20:08:06| >> :120:10317:10317:

Gareth Southgate hails Pep Guardiola's management of Phil Foden

Gareth Southgate hails Pep Guardiola's management of Phil Foden
© Reuters
Phil Foden has been a key part of Manchester City's successful season.

England manager Gareth Southgate says Phil Foden is nowhere near his peak years as the Manchester City star threatens to take the European Championship by storm.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a stellar season for City, helping them to a Premier League title and the Carabao Cup, with a Champions League final still to come on Saturday night.

He has played virtually double the amount of Premier League minutes as he did in 2019-20 and has started all of City's knockout games in Europe.

Southgate is excited by the prospect of what is still to come from Foden and hailed Pep Guardiola's management of him.

"I doubt he's peaking, which is unbelievably exciting. He's had a fantastic season," the Three Lions boss said.

"I guess we were all sitting wondering, 'Is he going to get his chance' and 'Is it going to be the right path?', and you've got to say that Pep has managed that brilliantly.

Pep Guardiola celebrates with Phil Foden after his Champions League goal against Borussia Dortmund
Pep Guardiola celebrates with Phil Foden after his Champions League goal against Borussia Dortmund (PA Wire via DPA)

"He has allowed him to develop. He's able to train with the best coach in the world and work with some of the best players in the world day to day.

"We've known the ability that is there. He's given him time to get a bit physically stronger. He still more often than not plays him from out wide or as a 10 rather than an eight, so that's interesting to observe from outside.

"But what has impressed me the most has been the hunger for goals. He has real hunger in every training session to score goals. It is not only about creating.

"He's got that real desire to score and that is a great attribute to have and he's hugely exciting but he's young and he's still learning and he is a player that we have got to look after and make sure we give him the best chance to succeed."

ID:449061: cacheID:449061:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11324:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England manager Gareth Southgate pictured on March 25, 2021
Read Next:
How have England's 33-man squad fared in league action this season?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37277393336088
2Arsenal37275589286186
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs371961271611063
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!