Foden happy to score but outlines what’s ‘more important’ as Man City batter Slovan Bratislava
Phil Foden hopes to make up for lost time after returning to the scoresheet in Manchester City’s comfortable Champions League victory at Slovan Bratislava.
The England international scored one and made another as Man City eased to their first win of the 2024/25 Champions League with a 4-0 success in Slovakia on Tuesday.
It had been just a second start since August for last season’s player of the year after a number of fitness issues.
“It was a good night for myself, obviously, being back out there,” said the 24-year-old.
“It’s nice to score again, but more importantly I’m just enjoying my football again. I’m delighted with the result and how I played.
“I’ve had a very slow start to the season with a bit of illness and a bit of fatigue, but I’m getting back into it now and feeling more like myself.”
City effectively saw off the Slovakian champions after Ilkay Gundogan and Foden struck inside the opening 15 minutes.
They created numerous other chances, most notably hitting the woodwork three times, before Erling Haaland and substitute James McAtee, with his first goal for the club, finished off the job.
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Foden said: “I don’t think it was easy, it was tough to break them down.
“You’ve got to give them respect and the atmosphere was unbelievable, but we did the job in the end.
“I had a few chances that I could have put away and on another night it could have been more goals but we can’t complain – clean sheet, 4-0, we’ll take that any day.”
City now have four points after two games in the competition following their draw with Inter Milan a fortnight ago.
Their attention now turns back to the Premier League and a visit from Fulham on Saturday.
They will hope to head into the international break with a first league victory in three after being frustrated by Arsenal and Newcastle in their last two outings.
Foden said: “I am obviously confident and believe in the team but this season teams have played the same way, where they defend on the edge of the box and it’s been difficult to break them down.
“Hopefully we can find new ways to break it down and score goals. That’s the aim.”
Foden’s contribution included setting up James McAtee’s first goal for the club and Guardiola was pleased to see him coming back into form after a slow start to the campaign owing to fitness issues.
Guardiola said: “He made a fantastic goal. I have the feeling he is getting back to his best step by step and, of course, Phil is really important for us.”
Academy product McAtee, who came off the bench in the second half, is hoping to make his mark at the club after spending most of the past two seasons on loan at Sheffield United.
Guardiola said: “Everyone adores him. You saw the reaction of the players, so everyone loves him.
“With teams who play so deep he has the quality to find it. He scored and had a few more chances.
“Of course he will not be a regular player but in a lot of games he will help us and when he plays like he did today I can always count on him.”
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