‘To be world class you have to win games; he’s winning games,” Pep Guardiola said of Phil Foden after he inspired the comeback to defeat Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in March. It was the local lad doing the damage against City’s most bitter rivals and he will be aiming to do it all again on Saturday to cap off his finest season.
A year ago Foden was readying himself for an identical FA Cup final but with one simple difference. On that occasion he had barely taken his seat on the bench when Ilkay Gündogan volleyed City into the lead after 12 seconds. The England international was eventually called upon to replace Kevin De Bruyne with 14 minutes remaining to see things through rather than be the main man.
