From Social Media Sensation to Quadruple Aspirations: Phil Foden Reveals All
Man City's Phil Foden opens up about his talented son Ronnie, his exciting new position, and his team's ambitious quest to conquer the quadruple Don't miss the match against Fulham, live on Sky Sports at 3pm Catch the thrilling highlights afterwards!
Ronnie Foden, a four-year-old boy, emerged as a rising star on the night Manchester City secured their Champions League victory in Istanbul. Throughout the celebrations that followed, Ronnie played a significant role. He signed with Rico Lewis on the team bus and even joined the squad in the dressing room, sitting on his father Phil's shoulders while dancing. This unforgettable involvement made Ronnie an instant Internet sensation. City fans have affectionately nicknamed him 'El Way' or 'The Dude' in Spanish.
"He became who he is because of his personality. I believe he gained immense popularity after our triumph in the Champions League. He reminds me of my younger self and he is incredibly humorous," revealed Phil Foden during an exclusive interview with We News.
"It was unbelievable. Each comment on my social media page pleaded to witness him. Hence, I decided to fulfill the fans' desires and establish an account for him, which unexpectedly became a huge sensation."
Within 14 hours of Foden setting up Ronnie's account, he hit the one million followers mark and currently has 3.9 million followers.
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Prior to Ronnie's performance in Istanbul, the spotlight had been on the senior Foden. The 23-year-old seamlessly stepped in for Kevin De Bruyne early in the first half, who had to leave the field due to a hamstring injury. Foden's drive and dynamism played a vital role in City's victory over a disciplined Inter Milan team, resulting in their first-ever Champions League triumph.
Due to De Bruyne's injury lay-off, Foden has had to assume a similar role in midfield at the start of this season. While Pep Guardiola primarily deployed him as a left winger last season, his outstanding performance as the player of the match against Newcastle United demonstrated his comfort in a more central position.
'New position is my favourite'
According to the player, "The game I participated in against Newcastle stands out as my favorite. Throughout that match, I experienced a sense of vitality, feeling more in tune with myself and confident enough to assert myself on the field. It aligns with my true nature as a player, and I aspire to continue in that position, exhibiting my abilities to others."
"I am capable of handling this position. It entails a significant amount of responsibility, requiring not just offensive skills but also defensive awareness and knowledge of surrounding teammates. However, I am confident in my ability to excel in this role and I am excited to see what I can achieve if given more opportunities to play there."
Despite Foden's impressive performance against Newcastle, Bernardo Silva was chosen over him for the subsequent game against Sheffield United last weekend. The additions of Matteo Kovacic, Mattheus Nunes, and Jeremy Doku this summer will only add to the rotation in the starting line-up, but Foden has become accustomed to such changes.
"You're part of one of the top teams in the world. However, there is no guarantee that you will play in every single game, even if you performed well in the previous one. Our manager has a preference for rotating and utilizing the whole squad. Each game brings a unique situation, and he selects different players accordingly. It is important to show respect for his decisions," he stated.
"I have become accustomed to this approach, but I hope to have the opportunity to play consistently now. With Kev [De Bruyne] being injured and the team requiring my presence, I aim to fulfill that role and contribute positively."
'Now we want to win quadruple'
City's attacking prowess has resulted in an impressive average of 94.6 goals over the past five Premier League seasons. The team's consistent success as the top-scoring team in the league can be traced back to the 2016/17 season. However, Foden attributes the team's achievements to its outstanding defense."While the strikers often receive the accolades, it is our world-class defenders who deserve the credit. They are the driving force behind our numerous triumphs. Our success stems from our relentless off-the-ball efforts, tirelessly tracking back and providing cover for each other," he emphasized.
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Foden has excelled while Kevin De Bruyne is absent.
City has commenced this season with the same dominant performance as they concluded the previous one. They are the sole team in the league to have triumphed in their first three matches and are predicted to secure their fourth consecutive championship. The only uncertainty hovering over City is whether they can find the inspiration to continue their success after reaching such great heights last year.
"I distinctly recall speaking with Jack Grealish regarding this matter. Following the conclusion of the Champions League, we exchanged glances and pondered, 'how can we replicate that exhilarating feeling?' It brought about a sense of melancholy within me," he expressed.
"We engaged in a brief conversation and concluded that the only option is to strive for a repeat performance or aim for the quadruple. That's our objective now. We must endeavor to achieve it once more. I am mindful of its near impossibility due to its immense difficulty, but the team yearns for it and is determined to accomplish it again."
