An assessment of Phil Foden’s pre-season success and an article which states the importance of Aymeric Laporte heading into our new campaign feature in today’s media watch.
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First up, we look at Adam Bate’s comment and analysis on Foden.
Bate believes that the teenager shouldn’t have to wait much longer to get more minutes in the upcoming season, after his unbelievable quality shone through on the US tour.
“Phil Foden left the field with a hamstring injury against Bayern Munich at the weekend but only after giving everyone the latest glimpse of his rare potential. It was all there,” Bate writes for Sky Sports. “Bringing the ball down out of the air, slipping through balls behind the defence with both feet and collecting passes on the half turn. Bernardo Silva scored twice but Foden was just as good.
“The teenager has a natural ability to find space but even when denied it, his close control is so assured that he can dribble out of danger with ease.
“It was impossible not to be impressed. ‘Phil Foden played an outstanding game today,’ said Pep Guardiola afterwards. ‘He is a fighter. He is a guy who runs. He has an England mentality as in he never ever gives up.’
“Cynics might say that Foden will need that attitude if he is to navigate a path through to the Manchester City first team given the competition for places in Guardiola‘s congested squad.
“Foden‘s five appearances off the bench were enough to ensure he became the youngest ever player to pick up a Premier League winners’ medal last season but it will not get easier.
“Time is on his side, of course. Foden only turned 18 in May - having to stick with the soft drinks as the champagne flowed around him during City’s open-top bus parade earlier that month.
“By any measure, he is ahead of schedule. But life at Manchester City is demanding. Every training session brings opportunity. But every transfer window brings threats.
“Foden‘s appetite has already struck a chord with supporters who can empathise with the idea of the local lad playing alongside the superstars.
“His wide-eyed joy at seeing Sergio Aguero collect his simple pass and slam home his fourth goal of the game against Leicester - thus earning a first Premier League assist for Foden - was a pleasure to witness.
“Will Guardiola give the youngsters more opportunities? Will Foden get his chance?
“’People say it depends on managers but it depends on players,’ says Guardiola. ‘I’m not going to put young players in because they are young. They will be in the squad because they have quality.’ With every pre-season friendly and every cameo appearance, Foden offers more evidence that quality is no barrier for him. The case for his inclusion grows.”
Big praise for the 18-year-old, indeed!
Next, an article in the Manchester Evening News highlights the importance of Laporte in City’s squad and states that not going to the World Cup will increase his hunger and desire to succeed in 2018/19.
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The Frenchman joined the club as our only January signing and has continued to grow under Pep Guardiola in recent months.
“It jarred initially when Aymeric Laporte said in a post-match interview that France’s World Cup win made him feel jealous,” Simon Bajkowski scribes.
“After weeks of delirium around England’s tournament and gearing up to the idea that football could actually be coming home (only for dreams to be dashed once more), it feels alien to think of anyone not being happy about their country lifting the famous trophy.
“And the footballing world is filled with players praising teammates and wishing everyone well, a la Leroy Sane for Germany this summer.
“But it would hurt anyone to see their colleagues and friends achieve something incredible without them, and it is surely exacerbated when it is broadcast to millions around the world.
“Winning the World Cup is the pinnacle for any footballer, and history would suggest that France will not be doing it again in 2022.
“That will make it even more bitter for Laporte, who should be at the peak of his powers by then.
“Making his frustration public did nothing to quell the idea that he could switch to the Spanish national team, having been overlooked by Didier Deschamps.
“However, that fire is crucial to Manchester City’s success under Pep Guardiola.
“The dressing room morale was rightly pointed out as being important when they won the title, with everyone backing each other and creating a wall of positivity that showed no sign of crumbling.
“As key, though, have been the flashpoints on the pitch. Think Kevin De Bruyne after Dele Alli’s nasty challenge in the Spurs game or Raheem Sterling‘s late, late shows, City’s momentum was built on players taking out their frustrations on the football and ending the dreams of opposition teams looking to get a result.”
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Finally, a number of Nick Cushing’s squad are up for nominations for the Women’s International Champions Cup team of the tournament.
The likes of Mel Lawley, Jill Scott and Karen Bardsley all feature in the polls in addition to a host of other City stars.
The Blues secured third place in the tournament following a 3-0 defeat to Lyon and a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
You can vote for our City players HERE!
That’s all for today’s media watch, but we will be back the same time tomorrow with all the latest City news from the back pages…
