Phil Foden says there’s no better player in the Premier League than Kevin De Bruyne when his Manchester City teammate is in form.
The pair played starring roles as City cruised past Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night, crushing Roberto De Zerbi’s side 4-0 on their home turf to close the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just a point.
De Bruyne opened the scoring with a superb diving header, following intricate play down the right flank involving Kyle Walker, and the game was out of sight by half-time as Foden netted a brace.
Those were Foden’s 15th and 16th Premier League goals of the season and earned him the player of the match award after the game. But the 23-year-old was quick to highlight teammate De Bruyne as the best player in the division, praising his supreme ability to “see passes other players don’t.”
“Playing with the best players in the world like Kev definitely helps my game,” Foden told Sky Sports.
“When he’s at it he’s the best player in the Premier League. To be playing with him in midfield it helps my game. He sees passes other players don’t. Sometimes you just have to run into the space and he’s going to find you.”
Foden has publicly declared in the past his belief that he plays best in a central area, but hasn’t always had the backing of City boss Pep Guardiola and England manager Gareth Southgate – both of whom have stated his skillset is better suited to playing out wide.
But Guardiola has tinkered things of late, bringing Foden inside alongside De Bruyne, and he added of his new role: “It’s nice I’m playing inside with him now and hopefully I can keep playing with him because it’s good for the team.
“We just want to win game by game to get to the title.”
Foden’s electrifying form means he’s one of the players being touted to win the PFA Player of the Year award, alongside England teammates Declan Rice and Cole Palmer, who have enjoyed their own outstanding seasons with Arsenal and Chelsea.
What we know
- Foden on scoresheet twice as Manchester City beat Brighton 4-0 at AMEX Stadium
- Premier League champions hot on heels of leaders Arsenal
- City’s win on south coast kickstarted by superb goal from Kevin De Bruyne.