PEP GUARDIOLA has told Phil Foden he must stay patient – despite his dazzling performance in Croatia.
The England Under-21 star was handed just his fourth start of the season in the Champions League group clash with Dinamo Zagreb.
Phil Foden has been warned not to expect a start against ArsenalCredit: Reuters
Foden made the most of the opportunity too, having a hand in the first three goals before scoring the fourth.
Yet despite an injury to skipper David Silva, the Manchester City chief still has many options. So there are no guarantees he will get another chance when the champions go to Arsenal tomorrow.
Guardiola said: “He played 50 games and he’s 19 years old, in one of the top teams in Europe.
“I don’t know if there’s anyone of his age who’s played that many for a club like this. We’re delighted with him and he’ll make incredible games in the future.
“I’m so happy with the way he played, it’s incredible for him to play with these players who help him in every training session.
“Maybe not all 50 games are for 90 mins but he’s been involved in difficult moments, Tottenham last season, Atalanta this year, we trust a lot with him.”
Guardiola is keen to give him more time but he has Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, David and Bernardo Silva to keep happy too.
He added: “Sometimes he doesn’t play but it’s for a good reason.
“Every season he’s playing more minutes and one day he will be a player who will play every weekend. We’ll see when.”
Asked if he could start at Arsenal, Guardiola said: “He could be ready, but there’s Gundo and Kevin who didn’t play in Zagreb, Bernardo can play there too.”
David Silva is a major doubt for the trip to the Emirates having taken a big kick in the Manchester derby defeat last Saturday.
John Stones (hamstring) and Sergio Aguero (thigh) are still not ready to return.
Pep Guardiola denies having secret clause in contract that lets him leave and insists he won’t quit Man City this summer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
