Manchester City had done the job in the first leg with a 4-0 demolition and this was a chance for Phil Foden to show what he could do against European opposition in Basel.
At 17 years and 283 days of age, Foden became the youngest player to appear for an English club in the Champions League knockout stages – and England fans certainly hope he evolves into the world-class midfielder that the national team so desperately craves.
It was not a winning night for the talented teen as City lost 2-1, though they breezed through to the quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate.
BASIC STATS
Shots – 0
Passes – 84
Pass Accuracy – 91.7%
Key passes – 0
Dribbles – 5
Fouled – 1
Dispossessed – 3
30 SECOND REPORT
Foden was a bright spark in a midfield that lacked the intensity that a Champions League match would otherwise bring, with the tie already done and dusted.
The left-footed youngster looked to give his side a shot in the arm with darting runs and dribbles though he often found himself spirited out of dangerous positions as he lacked the power to exploit the gaps.
It is a game that will go down as a positive step in his education as he certainly was one of the better performers on the night.
GOT RIGHT
Despite his tender years, Foden took on much of the possession as the link man between City’s midfield and front three – completing 84 amount of passes, putting the subbed Ilkay Gundogan in the shade (56). While it would be wrong to say he carved Basel open, there were a couple of raking balls to Bernardo Silva that particularly caught the eye.
On the whole, he certainly passes the eye test. The 17-year-old is comfortable in ultra-tight spaces. If he wasn’t English you’d think he’s graduated straight out of La Masia.
Phil Foden is only the 3rd player born this millennium to feature in the #UCL...
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 7, 2018
Most exciting English talent? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Eq15vXE4g3
GOT WRONG
Foden is still learning the tactical side of the game and, operating predominately on the centre-left of midfield, did leave full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko exposed at times as City struggled to cope with Basel’s pacy forwards.
The England teenager is still a boy – and certainly looks it at times when he was unable to wriggle away from the attention of more muscular defenders. He was dispossessed three times as he ran into a few cul-de-sacs.
KEY MOMENTS
LINK-UP PLAY 8th min – Foden produces the deftest of touches to take a defender out of the game and play the ball into the path of Leroy Sane, who sweeps ball to Bernardo and then Gabriel Jesus does the rest to score the opener.
MISSED CHANCE 36th min – Balls breaks to him nicely at the edge of the box, and with no Basel jersey in sight, but his right foot only connects with fresh air. If his left foot’s a wand, his right needs work.
KEY PASS 42nd min – Foden shows exactly what he has in his repertoire, bisecting the left-hand side of Basel’s defence with a long pass that finds a haring Bernardo down the right.
VERDICT – 6/10
A player of tremendous potential but it is clear why Pep Guardiola has been hesitant to give him any more than seven first-team appearances so far this season.
He is technically one of the most proficient youngsters to have graced the English game in recent years – whisper it quietly but he is reminiscent of Jack Wilshere when he first broke through for Arsenal – and it is wise to be heedful of other players who have not lived up to the hype.
However he is clever, agile, a fine passer and most importantly is in safe hands.
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
