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The academy graduate watched the Catalan giant win the European Championship trophy on his 11th birthday, and now he wants to win the championship for the same coach
The Manchester City striker admitted that Pep Guardiola’s great Barcelona team helped inspire Phil Foden’s love of football.
Foden watched the brilliant Barcelona celebrate their 11th birthday by defeating Manchester United 3-1 in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final.
On Friday, he will turn 21 the day before the boyhood club’s first Champions League final against Chelsea-Guardiola is now his agent and is trying to win the game for the first time since his victory at Wembley.
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“When I watched Barcelona when I was a kid, it was unbelievable; the way he set it up and how one-touch and two-touch football played was unbelievable, and I would never think he would one day be mine coach.”
“I’m very lucky to invite him as a coach. I like to work with him every day. I just remember growing up. They ruled football for many years and won everything.
“I just remember always watching TV with my dad and thinking:’Wow! What kind of team is this, what kind of coach do they have!” He tried to bring this kind of football here, and it seems to be working. .
“There is no doubt that they played an important role in my career. I watched them when I was young, and now that the manager is here, it also helps. I understand how he plays and how he wants to play. . This is very helpful.”
Bigger picture
Guardiola has faced some criticism for hindering Foden at the beginning of his career, but the England international has now become an important part of the Manchester City team.
He has started 11 of the 12 European matches this season and scored both in the quarter-final defeat of Dortmund.
“In my age group, there are not many children competing in teams like this,” Foden said. “A lot of people are complaining about the timing and events of the game, but the team we have here and how many outstanding players we have at the time, it is difficult to enter.
“I just always believed in myself and trusted the manager. This year was really good for me. After playing more time, I would definitely say it was a reward.”
The Stockport-born star admitted that he and his family were shocked for the last ten years after his extraordinary victory at Barcelona.
He added: “They just kept telling me that they watched the game since I was young and they couldn’t believe that I would play in the UEFA Champions League final.”
“I will enter the finals in the same way as any other game: just smile and say let’s wait and see. Nothing will change the way I prepare. Everything will become the same.”
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