Phil Foden is looking to land a statue at Manchester City by the time he is finished at the club as he targets the Champions League.
Foden, 22, is the big success story from the academy after rising through every age group to make it in one of the most demanding squads in world football under Pep Guardiola. Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis, and others have followed in Foden's footsteps looking to take the same path to the highest level of professional football.
It has not been straightforward for the Stockport youngster though, who had to battle to come through and is still having to fight for his place every week. He spent several months of this season out of favour with Guardiola as well as struggling with a persistent foot injury before overcoming those issues to find his form again.
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Vincent Kompany was back at the Etihad on Saturday as Burnley manager, returning to a stadium where there is a statue of him outside to recognise his contributions to the club over 11 years. And homegrown talent Foden is aiming to get the same honour for everything he puts into the club.
“I came from a rough area and not many people make it from my area. So to come out of that and see what I’ve done, I’m obviously proud of that," Foden told Arab 360.
"It’s so special to be part of this City team. Hopefully, in years to come, I can talk about my experience to my young kids and tell them how it was.
"Hopefully I can be remembered as a legend here when I finish, hopefully get a statue - I want that, definitely! For now, I’m just enjoying every moment.”
Foden has already won four Premier League titles and been part of a team that has won a domestic clean sweep, but this City team are yet to land the biggest prize in European football. Amid many painful exits, the Champions League continues to elude them.
There is an acceptance at the club that this group will not be seen as one of the greatest in football unless they can land the biggest trophy missing from their cabinet. They are in the quarter-finals again this year, although must face first Bayern Munich and then Real Madrid or Chelsea to make a second final.
City are fighting in the Premier League and FA Cup as well, and have prioritised domestic success in the past. Foden made clear, however, that the Champions League has become more important to the squad with each exit they have suffered.
“I hope it’s this year. Definitely, the Champions League is the one we are all looking at now," he said. “We want to take a step further.
"We have been in a final and obviously it was heartbreaking to lose. Hopefully, if we can get there again we can use the defeat in the final, and the experience of winning the Premier League and other cups, to help us through it.”
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