Phil Foden provided the type of magic that cannot be planned for in a tactics board and it was exactly what Pep Guardiola needed after Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Despite a lineup that included six changes, City kept the pressure on Arsenal by reducing the gap at the top of the table to two points with two games remaining following their dominant win over Palace.
Foden had the second rare appearance in the starting 11, and provided assists for the first two goals of the game, from Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush, making a crafty back-heel assist to Semenyo that had City fans roaring.
‘You need the quality, the spark, the talent, the vision, something,’ Guardiola said of Foden. That doesn’t live in the tactical boards, it doesn’t live in the meetings, it doesn’t live in the videos or even the training.”
“He (Foden) comes from the ball and does something in small places. He is one of the good players, he can deliver and I’m really pleased for him in his overall performance.
Foden set the tempo for a City side that Guardiola changed up with Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea on his mind, and who may find it difficult to make Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in Qatar as he struggles for playing time.
Brilliant depth of Guardiola’s squad is proving crucial in the run-in Foden said
Foden said: “Massively important at this stage of the season to have fresh lads coming in. We were all excited to use it and we were prepared. This is a huge game and obviously, we are really happy to get the win.
The 25-year-old has been used sparingly at times this season, so he was delighted to get on the scoresheet.
I had a decent half season, the first half, and tailed off a bit, before finding it difficult to hold my position in the side. It comes with quality players around you. You wait, you are patient, you train as hard as you can and when your moment comes you seize it.
Guardiola is aware that City are not masters of their own fate.
City have to be heroes against Bournemouth on the following day, with only an Arsenal defeat of Burnley on Monday. The South Coast side are also unbeaten in 16 games and chasing Europe. They finish the season against Aston Villa on 24 May.
“I cannot ask for more. Man City have battled for every piece of silverware they hold And now really just incredible focus, really the last two (league games),” Guardiola said. It is the one win and immediately after ‘but I had looked at that — okay, interesting, Southampton followed — oh well they are not easy one’s but we focus on us and see what comes.