Guardiola fancies Phil Foden to step into the shoes of David Silva next term
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to step into the shoes of David Silva, once the Spaniard leaves the club next summer. The 33-year-old has already confirmed that he would be leaving the Citizens at the expiry of his contract and Guardiola has hinted that he may have the successor within the current squad.
Speaking in a press conference, Guardiola said that the club have the ambition of handing Foden with a regular starting berth after Silva’s departure and there is the belief that the youngster will meet the expectations, he told: “That is our wish. Of course, David is a legend – the amount of games, the amount of titles, but that is our wish and we believe he [Foden] can do it.
“He can do it, in small spaces he is so good, Phil. He has this incredible quality for the first reception in small spaces – also the box to box, like a typical English player. He will get the minutes he needs at his age right now. Always he has a good impact coming from the bench. Some players don't have an impact coming from the bench, always I have that feeling from Phil.”
Silva has been with the Citizens for the past nine years and he would complete nearly a decade of service with the club prior to his departure next summer. During this period, he has helped the Citizens win four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups. In terms of the Premier League, he has made 294 appearances whereby he has contributed 57 goals and 87 assists.
As a result, he is undoubtedly one of the best players to have graced the club and it remains to be seen whether the Spaniard can get his hands on the Champions League trophy – something which has eluded the Citizens despite their league dominance of late.