Manchester City teenage sensation Phil Foden has brushed off comparisons with Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta after starring in the club’s 3-0 win over Oxford United.
Foden, 18, produced a scintillating performance in the Third Round of the EFL Cup at the Kassam Stadium, setting up Riyad Mahrez with a defence-splitting pass in the second half to double City’s advantage, before going on to open his own account for the club.
After the match, the frequently dubbed “Stockport Iniesta” drew widespread plaudits from both clubs, with Oxford United manager Karl Robinson heaping immense praise on the talented tyro, branding him a “genius” as well as reaffirming the Iniesta contrast.
However, Foden refused to get carried away with the comparisons, believing the former Spain international was simply on another planet during his playing days with Barca.
Speaking to reporters (via The Guardian), Foden said: “Yeah, I am happy about that. But Iniesta, come on, he is on a different planet, so for them to call me that is massive, it means a lot.”
Foden described his first goal for the club as “an unbelievable feeling” but he was quick to pin down his progress to being in the same environment with some of world football’s most talented midfield players, including the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
He added: “Training with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, players in the same position as me, I am learning every day off them.
“Watching what they do has really brought me on as a player. Working with Pep as well has really helped a big part of my game, bringing it on.”
Manager Pep Guardiola has come under some criticism this season for not giving Foden more playing time in the league, with the teenager racking up just 29 minutes of top-flight football this term, though the midfielder has backed the Spanish tactician’s managerial approach.
Phil Foden has scored his first ever senior career goal on his fourteenth appearance for Man City in all competitions.
The first of many. ⚽ pic.twitter.com/SFu5s62Lc8
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 25, 2018
“There is no need to rush,” he said. “Pep knows what he is doing, I will play at the right time. He is good at bringing young players through, he has done it in his career before. So I have to be patient. I’m still young and still enjoying being there and learning at the moment.”
Foden started in the Community Shield as the Citizens brushed past Chelsea 2-0, but he has so far only followed that up in the league with a nine-minute cameo against Huddersfield Town and a 20-minute cameo against Cardiff over the weekend.
Next up for Guardiola and Co is a home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, and, after his strong League Cup performance, Foden will certainly be looking for more minutes.
The post Man City youngster Phil Foden reacts to Andres Iniesta comparisons appeared first on Squawka News.
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