Rio Ferdinand has pinpointed the importance of how Pep Guardiola told Manchester City star Phil Foden he would be omitted from his starting XI against RB Leipzig,
With a place in the Champions League quarter-finals at stake, Guardiola and star-studded City welcome their German opponents to the Etihad Stadium and do so with an eye-catching selection. Despite returning to top form recently, Foden has been overlooked with City naming him on the bench.
It has been a topsy-turvy season for the England international. Having shone in the early months, he has been made to wait for another chance due to an injury setback and other players - such as Jack Grealish - putting in encouraging performances.
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Foden himself is back to somewhere near his best with four goals in as many appearances. However, there was no place in the starting line-up for the 22-year-old after he was replaced by Kevin de Bruyne, and included on the substitutes bench instead.
Speaking about that decision, BT Sport pundit and ex-Manchester United man Ferdinand said: "The impact on him, I think everybody initially will go; 'I bet he's fuming and I bet he's upset' because he's come in and got four goals in four games.
"He's answered his critics so to speak, but also the manager's call to come in and produce. The most important thing will be that conversation the manager has with him in the stages before this selection process because if that conversation is one like; 'I need you in the game at some point' it keeps him upbeat."
Ferdinand added: "If it's a straight; 'Nah, you're not playing' and with no explanation, which I don't believe it is, then I think that's when you have cause for concern from a player's mindset. Let's not get it twisted, all players want to play in big games. There will be disappointment."
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