Pep Guardiola praised Phil Foden’s form after Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Manchester United. Guardiola emphasized Foden’s importance, highlighting his impact and expressing optimism about his future performances following a challenging previous season. Haaland continued his impressive form with a brace, contributing to City’s dominant victory.
Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, has lauded Phil Foden's return to top form after their dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester United in the Manchester derby. Guardiola emphasized how much the team missed Foden's dynamism and impact during the previous season, highlighting his importance to the team's success.
Foden ignited the Etihad Stadium with the opening goal in the derby, setting the tone for a commanding performance. Erling Haaland further cemented City's dominance with a brace in the second half, securing a comfortable win for the home side. The victory was especially significant given City's recent setbacks, providing a much-needed boost ahead of crucial matches in both the Champions League and the Premier League.
In the 2023-24 season, Foden had an outstanding campaign, netting 27 goals and establishing himself as a key player for City. However, the subsequent 2024-25 season saw a dip in his form, with only nine Premier League goal contributions. This decline coincided with Manchester City's lowest league finish since 2016-17, underscoring Foden's importance to the team's overall performance.
During Sunday's derby, Foden showcased his attacking prowess and defensive work rate. He led the team in final third entries (10) and passes in the final third (19), demonstrating his ability to create opportunities and dictate play in crucial areas. Additionally, his defensive contributions were notable, winning possession 11 times, more than any other player on the pitch. His all-around performance highlighted his significance to Guardiola's tactical setup.
Guardiola emphasized Foden’s integral role in the team, stating, "We missed him so much last season. We need him so much. We cannot forget two seasons ago when we won the last game against West Ham [to win the title] he was the most important player in the Premier League." He added, "He was maybe the key player to win the league. Last season for injuries, for other reasons he could not be with us."
The manager expressed optimism about Foden's trajectory, hoping he can consistently perform at his best. "Hopefully step by step, he can get his best. I am pretty sure a game like today against United is a special game for him because he is an incredible Manchester City supporter. I’m sure he’s going to have the best feeling," Guardiola noted.
Manchester is BLUE
3-0 @okx pic.twitter.com/vSGSSeKNoI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 14, 2025
Manchester City's victory over their local rivals was a welcome result after consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Brighton before the international break. The win is timely as they prepare for critical matches against Napoli in the Champions League on Thursday and Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
"It’s just one game. We have to prove [it]. But it’s true that winning games, especially in the derby, and seeing the faces of all the fans — all the joy and all the happiness after the game — is always better," Guardiola commented. He added, "It’s one game, but it’s important, after two defeats, to do it at home against United. The spirit was really good."
Haaland, fresh from scoring five goals for Norway in their 11-1 victory over Moldova, continued his impressive form. He now shares the record for most goals in Premier League Manchester derbies with eight, alongside Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney. Foden closely follows with seven goals in the derby.
"Erling never disappoints us since he arrived," Guardiola said. "Erling has the commitment, that is why he signed a contract for many years. He’s a special player." This strong endorsement highlights Haaland’s importance to the team's future and Guardiola's confidence in his abilities.
The Manchester City manager will be hoping that this derby win will reignite the team's ambition as they look to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet, both domestically and in Europe. With players like Haaland and Foden at the top of their game, they certainly possess the firepower to challenge on all fronts.