Guardiola makes incredible Phil Foden claim after match-winning derby display

03 March 2024 , 19:39

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Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Phil Foden (Image: Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has branded Phil Foden the "best player in the Premier League right now" after he starred in Manchester City's 3-1 win over rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

United went into half-time 1-0 up thanks to a stunning goal from Marcus Rashford before Foden hit back with a brilliant strike of his own. The 23-year-old then scored his second to give City the lead, with Erling Haaland wrapping up the win with a goal in added time.

And Guardiola was full of praise for Foden after the match, telling BBC Match of the Day: "It is the amount of games he is playing. He was always a talented player but now he is more mature and understands more the game, especially defensively.

"He can play middle, right, make moments and cut inside, play in the left, scoring from the left. What can I say? He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable.

"When he scores two goals it gives me more pleasure than the other stuff. We don't negotiate over that, the guy who doesn't do that doesn't stay in the team. He loves football, he lives for football. He is a joy and his work ethic is unbelievable."

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Foden's teammate Kyle Walker also lavished praise on the England international, telling Sky Sports: " I think this season he has been nothing short of first-class, but that is the standard he sets himself and that is the standard we set for him.

"That is the standard that he needs to keep up now. You know when he comes in on his left foot, we call him the sniper because he likes shooting! He likes a shot so when he comes in on that left foot we know he has got the quality, calmness and composure to pick his spot and I thought he took his goal very well."

Foden bagged a brace as Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-1 (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

United boss Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, insisted his side could bounce back from the defeat despite the fact they are now 11 points off the top four. " We had one bad performance last week where we didn't play that well," the Dutchman told Sky Sports.

"But from this year on, we are really progressing. You have to get some points back and win a game like this against City. There are many games to play and everyone can beat everyone so things can quickly turn around.

"We have to win our games. Number five can also be a position in the Champions League, so we have to fight for it."

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Matthew Cooper