Foden dazzles as Palmer cameo showcases City youth

BRUGES, Belgium－Phil Foden ran the show for Manchester City in its 5-1 hammering of Club Brugge in the Champions League, but it was the scoring cameo of fellow academy graduate Cole Palmer that underlined the club's vast strength in depth.

Operating in a false No 9 role, Foden tormented the Brugge defense before he was withdrawn in the 64th minute－with City 3-0 up and cruising against a side that held Paris Saint-Germain in its opening game.

Three minutes later and substitute Palmer added to City's lead with a clinical finish from a Raheem Sterling pass.

England coach Gareth Southgate recently called Foden's emergence as an England star "fabulously exciting", and the 21-year-old, who missed the Euro 2020 final with injury, did not disappoint in Belgium.

His chipped pass for Joao Cancelo resulted in the Portugal defender breaking the deadlock.

Foden's constant movement forged numerous openings for City, whose failed pursuit of Harry Kane in the summer has forced Pep Guardiola to get creative with his attack to compensate for the lack of an out-and-out striker.

"He can play as a striker, dropping when he wants and going in behind. He can attack really well with Rodri, with Kevin (De Bruyne). Phil has a special talent," said Guardiola.

"We don't have a real striker to score 25 goals so we have to put as many players as possible close to the box to score a goal. He's one of the guys."

While City's spending power is almost unparalleled, the club is showing it can nurture young talent too.

Foden had to bide his time before developing into a core member of City's first team, providing the blueprint for the likes of Palmer.

Guardiola said he plans to keep the 19-year-old attacking midfielder at the club this season and turn down any loan offers.

Palmer made a late appearance off the bench in last weekend's 2-0 Premier League win over Burnley, and then scored a hat-trick just a couple of hours later for the under-23s against Leicester's reserves.

"Cole has a special quality, in front of the box he has this talent that is difficult to find. When he has the ball there, most of them finish in the net," said Guardiola.

"But I know how it works with young players in all countries, especially this one (England). So let's be calm, let's be patient like we've done with Phil. He's a player for our future, for the future of this club."

Palmer became just the third teenager to score for City in the Champions League after Foden and Kelechi Iheanacho, who has since moved on to Leicester.

But Guardiola insisted the teenager would not be fast-tracked into his plans, name-checking a handful of other youngsters for whom he has high hopes.

"The people in this world want things immediately but everything needs time," said Guardiola. "You cannot cook a good dish if you don't spend time in the kitchen.

"We also have Liam Delap, Sam Edozie, Luke Mbete, Romeo Lavia－five or six really good talented players in the academy. Who knows, if they continue to be humble and work they can be important for Manchester City."

AFP