I sleep better when I m not thinking about Neymar and Mbappe! - Guardiola aiming to stop PSG duo goal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from goal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Foden will do his talking on the pitch, says Man City boss Guardiola
Issued on:
16/04/2021 - 18:34 Phil Foden celebrates scoring for Manchester City in their Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund WOLFGANG RATTAY POOL/AFP/File 3 min
London (AFP)
Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to do his talking on the pitch after a contentious tweet was posted by his social media company aimed at Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe.
Foden played a starring role in Manchester City s Champions League quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund, scoring the winning goal in both legs.
But the 20-year-old was reportedly angered after the company controlling his accounts posted a tweet reading: @Kmbappe are you ready, looking ahead to the semi-final against PSG.
Make no mistake, though - this was another night when nerves were shredded after Foden s even younger England team-mate, Jude Bellingham, threatened to add another chapter to City s European heartbreak.
Slim margins have cost City in the past three years, and they were heading for a fourth successive quarter-final exit after a brilliant and breathless performance from 17-year-old Bellingham saw him fire Dortmund into a first-half lead that would have seen them through on away goals.
City needed a goal of their own, and were literally handed a lifeline when Foden s cross struck Emre Can s arm in the 55th-minute.
As Riyad Mahrez stepped up to take the spot-kick, even the usually ice-cool Kevin De Bruyne could be seen biting his nails. Similar scenes were taking place around living rooms in Manchester, that is for sure.
Champions League talking points: Man City, Real Madrid the teams to beat? Bad luck for Bayern Munich?
play
What Manchester City have to do to beat PSG (1:31)
The FC crew feel Man City cannot allow PSG the freedom on the ball in the UCL semifinals. (1:31)
The Champions League semifinals are set with Real Madrid facing off with Chelsea and Manchester City set to clash with Paris Saint-Germain. There is plenty to break down from Real s defeat of Liverpool, Chelsea overcoming FC Porto, Man City beating Borussia Dortmund, and PSG eliminating holders Bayern Munich. ESPN s Rob Dawson, Sid Lowe and Derek Rae look back at the action and preview the next stage.
His contributions ensured quadruple-chasing City progressed to the last four for only the second time in their history and the first since Guardiola took charge of the club five years ago.
Guardiola has gradually eased Foden into the side over the course of his tenure and the England midfielder now looks ready to take command on the big stage.
“You have the feeling that he is a guy who never hides,” said Guardiola, whose side will play Paris St Germain for a place in the final. “He always creates something. He is dynamic offensively, defensively with quality in the smaller spaces.