If doubts remain among voters over who should be crowned Footballer of the Year for 2023-24, Phil Foden underlined – three times for emphasis – why this is an open and shut case.
It should be the same when the PFA Player of the Season voting returns.
There have been some good campaigns elsewhere this season. Alexis Mac Allister has been brilliant for Liverpool; Declan Rice has been the driver of Arsenal’s title fight; Ollie Watkins is tied for second on the Premier League scoring charts and tied for first on the assists chart; Jarrod Bowen has 15 goals for a random West Ham side; In his own team, Rodri has been magnificent, as so often.
But Phil Foden is the Footballer of the Year regardless of the metric you want to use and his fascinating hat-trick against Aston Villa, the third of his career at the age of 23 and the second of the season after Brentford’s absence, does not make more than strengthen your case.
“He can do whatever he wants,” Pep Guardiola said afterwards, barely able to hide his smile.
Phil Foden scored a stunning hat-trick in Manchester City’s 4-1 win against Aston Villa on Wednesday
Foden’s superb performance underlined his status as the Premier League’s best player this season.
Foden’s year-on-year improvement goes beyond Pep Guardiola’s survey and encouragement
“I think he is a first-class player and we know it.”
But this is Guardiola. There is always room for improvement.
“He’s open-minded,” he said. “He still has to concentrate on things, sometimes he gets distracted thinking about what to do defensively, but he has a natural talent, a gift.” He is so special when he is in a central position.
“He has goals in his veins and we have to use him.”
Foden’s year-on-year improvement goes beyond Guardiola’s probing and the coaching staff’s encouragement and challenges. He even goes beyond his own innate professionalism and work ethic.
He is highly motivated to be the best at the game, even obsessed. That’s what separates it.
Joleon Lescott recalled how he even had to take a ball away from Foden, such was his obsession with perfecting his craft when he was away with the England Under-21 team a few years ago.
“I worked with him at England U21s and we had to ban him from doing extra sessions after training because I couldn’t get him off the pitch.” Lescott said.
“He always wants to work on his technique, put himself in game scenarios and develop. He probably loves the game as much as I love my kids! He’s just obsessed.
For all the praise Foden has received, and he more than holds up his end of the bargain to receive it, many in the dressing room are quick to fill him with new motivation to improve even further; They know exactly which buttons to press.
Kyle Walker did just that against Everton when Foden, who he calls ‘The Sniper’, was told he could and should be much more clinical in front of goal. Last night against Villa it was his defensive work that Guardiola picked up.
“It didn’t start well,” Guardiola said, “but I think the goal helped his mood a lot.”
The goals, the many of them, are what have taken Foden to a whole new level.
His hat-trick here meant that only four players – Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen (seven), Harry Kane (six) and Erling Haaland (five) – had scored more hat-tricks in the Premier League than him at the same age. All of them are central forwards and true scorers. Foden is one of a kind from him.
In 2018-19 he achieved seven; a season later, there were eight and in 2020-21 he reached 16 goals and 10 assists and won the PFA Young Player of the Season award.
In 2021-22, when defending his PFA title, he scored 14 goals and 11 assists; In 2022-23 there were 15 goals and eight assists; This time he already has 21 goals and 10 assists with 15 games left.
“At the moment I love my football, I play with a smile on my face and try to help the team. I know I’m capable of scoring goals and today I showed that, so I’m delighted,” Foden told TNT Sports.
‘I always set out (the goal) to do better than last season, to score more goals. “I think I’m at the top this year, so I’m doing well.”
The Manchester City star’s inherent motivation to be the best he can be separates him from the rest.
Several other players have enjoyed good seasons, such as Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister (left) and Arsenal midfield maestro Declan Rice (right), but Foden deserves to be rewarded.
Guardiola later wanted to emphasize that Foden and Kevin De Bruyne, who stayed on the bench to rest here, can coexist in the center of City, which loves the 4-1-4-1 system possible thanks to Rodri’s mastery. but, and whisper this quietly, Foden is beginning to prove that life without De Bruyne won’t be so bad at all. In fact, they will be fine.
De Bruyne, 32, will be one of Saudi Arabia’s top targets in the summer and while it was once an inconceivable exit for City, it should no longer be a conversation they are not considering.
Foden is comfortably City’s greatest talent and will be the jewel in this crown for years to come.
For now, however, a player highly motivated by individual awards should start making some room in his trophy case. Cutlery is imminent.