PHIL FODEN says he needs to work on his killer instinct after admitting he let Real Madrid off the hook on Tuesday.
On his 100th start for City, Foden scored a header to go level with Wayne Rooney on nine Champions League goals by the age of 21.
Phil Foden scored a crucial goal in City’s Champions League clash with Real on TuesdayCredit: RexAnd he now has as many European goals to his name as Wayne Rooney did at the same ageCredit: GETTY
But despite a sensational display, Foden insists he must be more clinical in front of goal.
And the England star could not forget the chances both he and Riyad Mahrez missed which may have put the game beyond European heavyweights Real.
Foden said: “It was important we got the win. But on the other hand, we are a bit disappointed that we didn’t kill the game in the first half.
“We had some great chances. It is something to work on.
“I had a great chance in the first half and Riyad had a chance as well. If those two go in, then it kills the game.
“I just need to keep my form up now and hopefully the second leg is much better.”
Club captain Fernandinho says Manchester City will head to the Bernabeu next week convinced they can ‘hurt’ the Spanish giants.
Boss Pep Guardiola’s men have a slender one-goal advantage to take into the second leg after a 4-3 win — but that did not reflect their superiority on the night.
While some City fans were disappointed to only win by one goal, Foden says they will take heart from the way they dominated the tie.
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The 21-year-old said: “We can take a lot of confidence. We hurt them when we were attacking.
“It is going to be an interesting second leg and we are going to have to control it more.
“We know that they can hurt us at any time with great players like Karim Benzema who can score a goal out of nothing.
“The manager touched on it before the game that Real Madrid have won the Champions League so many times and they never seem to be out of the game, no matter what the score is. They always find a way to make chances.
“It could have been a better result, but we cannot be too disappointed because it is still a good result.”
Meanwhile, Fernandinho insisted there will be no disappointment that they did not end the tie on the night — and they will go to Spain looking to win again.
City could have had at least four more goals at the Etihad and the veteran Brazilian says that will ensure they go into the second game in good spirits.
Manchester City lead Real Madrid 4-3 in their Champions League semi-final tie with RealCredit: AFP
Plus, City have now beaten the Spanish giants in their last three meetings — having won both legs of their last 16 clash two years ago.
And the veteran skipper says there is no danger of them just trying to protect their slender advantage in the return on Tuesday.
Fernandinho said: “It is a different situation, a different occasion.
“We’ll try to play as we’ve been playing — try to hurt them as much as we can.
“And obviously we need to be a bit smarter, defend better and not concede any chances over there.”
Fernandinho had a mixed night after coming on as a first-half sub to replace injured John Stones, out of position at right-back.
The Brazilian midfielder set up Foden’s header with a rampaging run.
