Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola suggested that Phil Foden was a key player in his side after their win over Chelsea on Sunday.
Foden scored the second of Cheslea's three goals in their 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge, and was one of the standout performers for his side on the day.
After he was substituted from the field in the 86th minute of the field, Guardiola greeted him as he left the field, in a seemingly aggressive manner.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets Phil Foden as he leaves the field of play during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London.Speaking to Sky Sports after the victory, Guardiola said that he told Foden how proud he was of him, and that he had a great game.
"He never dropped anything for his energy," Guardiola said. "He can play up front in all four positions, and again he had a sense of goal; he scored another fantastic goal.
"We rely on him, he is incredible. He is the national team for England, he will be a top player because he is so clever and so calm. He had another good performance today."
🗣 "I'm so proud. He can play up front in all four positions and he scored a fantastic goal."
Pep Guardiola reacts to today's game and explains what he said to Phil Foden as he came off the pitch.
Watch the reaction to Man City's win at Stamford Bridge on Sky Sports PL 📺 pic.twitter.com/QdqwcFksmj— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 3, 2021
City need to play in their own rhythm
For Guardiola, City's 3-1 scoreline against Chelsea was brought on by their use of the ball and getting into their own tempo.
"The players were incredible, fantastic in all departments," Guardiola said. "We are a team that we have to play in a certain rhythm, we cannot play like other teams where everything is up and down and up and down.
"We have to play in our rhythm. A lot of thousands of passes, and then in the right moment we attack. We won the Premier League in that way, with more patience and more calm.
"We missed, a little bit, this tempo, and today we got it."
Guardiola suggested that the reason that City make so many passes is because they lack the physicality in their players to create opportunities without passing.
"We don't have the physicality in our players to make actions for the 40 metres, [to make those] quick transitions," Guardiola said.
"Maybe [Raheem] Stirling, a little bit Kevin [de Bruyne], but not much. The other players just have to play with the ball.
"From the 'keeper to the striker, we have to put the ball on the grass, make a thousand passes and try when we have the moment to attack them."
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