Phil Foden ‘world-class’ center of attention for Manchester City in FA Cup final | the city of Manchester

“To be world class you have to win games; he wins games,” Pep Guardiola said of Phil Foden after he inspired a comeback to beat Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in March. The local boy has done damage to City’s fiercest rivals and will be looking to do it all again on Saturday to cap off his best ever season.

A year ago, Foden were preparing for an identical FA Cup final, but with one difference. On that occasion, he had barely taken his place on the bench when Ilkay Gündogan volleyed City into the lead after 12 seconds. The England international was eventually called on to replace Kevin De Bruyne with 14 minutes remaining to see things out rather than be the main man.

This time Foden, who turns 24 on May 28, will be in the spotlight. The Premier League and Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year awards are placed on his home in Stockport. Things weren’t going too badly in Foden’s career before August, but he reached new heights, going from undisputed talent to undisputed.

When De Bruyne limped off the win over Burnley on the opening day of the season, it was clear that City would be without him for months and a talismanic replacement was needed. Nineteen goals and eight assists from Foden later, City are Premier League champions once again. The statistics show that he is at the center of everything in one of the best teams in the world. Needing a win against West Ham to secure the title on the final day of the season, Foden scored twice to get the party going, challenging Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr as the most admired Mancunian in inside the field.

Everyone knew Foden was special, playing for the under-14s when he was 10 and always the standout in the academy. He was bound to play for the first team and his collection of Young Player of the Year awards in various forms shows he hasn’t done a bad job in his first 23 years.

“Obviously he has taken a step forward as a footballer, in terms of minutes and being decisive in games,” Guardiola said of Foden. “Maybe it used to be a look of action, but now it’s consistent. This is the truth, but there is still a margin. Sometimes his game is overexcited – you need to be calmer. But this season was very important. He is going forward but I have a feeling that he can be better and I have a feeling that he can do it because he loves football. He enjoys being on the field. I have a feeling he doesn’t like having a day off.”

At the start of the season, Guardiola insisted that Foden did not fully understand the defensive demands of the number 10 role, which is why he has spent most of his career on the flanks. He learned a harsh but valuable lesson against Crystal Palace in December, giving the ball away and then conceding a penalty in his attempt to make amends. Since then he has flourished, fully understanding what is required of him, thanks to an error.

He ignited City in difficult games. Where previously he contributed to victories, now Foden instigates them. At Everton, with City a goal behind, he equalized en route to a 3-1 victory, and with the team behind at Brentford, he hit a hat-trick in a game that ended the same way. In that derby in March, Marcus Rashford had given United a lead which they held on to for 48 minutes before Foden showed his class: his first goal was a characteristic strike into the top corner after slipped inside and the second came from a clever run and exchange with Julián Álvarez. It was fitting that Foden scored twice against West Ham to secure the Premier League title.

One of the most gifted players in the world of his generation, Foden does not rely on what he was born with, spending as much time as possible on the training ground, working to improve every aspect. Although he looks light, he is strong and quick, a dangerous combination to add to his speed of thought and footwork.

Wembley will be the final venue for Foden’s stint with City before England takes center stage. At international level, he has four goals in 33 caps, an indication that he is not used to his potential. Gareth Southgate is more conservative than Guardiola, handcuffing Foden when he could win a game for his country too. Foden and the nation will be hoping his club form is enough to convince Southgate to release him.

Foden has become world-class and will join his fellow countrymen for the European Championship. If he can find the same rapport with Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham that he has with his City team-mates, it could turn from a Phil Foden year celebrated in the blue sides of Manchester to one for a whole nation to enjoy to enjoy.