Phil Foden’s Brace Puts Manchester City Juggernaut Back on Track

Phil Foden’s brace helped Pep Guardiola’s side win the Manchester City vs Dortmund game 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, November 5. The Cityzens showed some vintage form to thrash the Germans easily.

Foden returned to the scoring sheet by netting twice against Borussia Dortmund. Phil Foden’s brace was supplemented by Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki to complete an emphatic win for the Cityzens.

Phil Foden’s Brace – One of City’s Saviours

The hosts desperately needed that Phil Foden brace in the Manchester City vs Dortmund UEFA Champions League clash. Foden struck twice in an identical manner, scoring with perfectly-placed shots from the edge of the opposition penalty box. This has always been Foden’s speciality, as his ability to finish with left-footed shots has always been his speciality.

Foden has scored four goals this season. Erling Haaland, who once again scored on Wednesday to take his season’s tally to 18, is by far Manchester City’s highest goal-scorer, but any other significant contribution is going to help the cause of Pep Guardiola’s men.

Another positive thing for the Cityzens was Jeremy Doku’s performance on the left flank. The Belgian winger registered an assist and initiated the move for another goal to sign off with a brilliant showing.

Manchester City have been heavily dependent on Haaland to score goals this season. The Norwegian has obliged so far, but unless the rest of the attacking players in their squad turn up, it will be difficult for them to taste success in terms of winning silverware. Ahead of a pivotal clash with Liverpool in the Premier League, the facile win in Manchester City vs Dortmund is going to boost their morale.

Foden’s Time at City

Phil Foden‘s brace has now taken his goal tally to 104 goals in 330 matches for the Cityzens so far in his career. He is one of the best 25-year-old players to have ever graced English football. However, if he is to be counted among the legends of the game, he has to keep performing in this manner.

If we think short-term, it is compulsory for Foden to perform well to secure his place in the English squad for the World Cup to be held in less than a year. If we reduce the scope of this discussion even further, the imminent challenge for Foden will be to convince Thomas Tuchel of his form for the German to pick him in the English squad in the international break this month.

Unless the Englishman performs exceptionally well this season, it will not be possible for him to break into a squad likely to be adorned with attacking midfielders like Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer.

Strictly talking about potential, Foden easily makes it into the Three Lions’ squad. However, his underperformance for the English national team has been shockingly obvious. He has only four goals in 45 matches for England, which does not do justice to his talent at all. The Phil Foden brace might be the start of his redemption as a footballer.