One moment in time: Foden’s big impact | OneFootball

Our new series recalling memorable moments from past respective fixtures with our opponents looks back at a must-win clash with Tottenham.

We go back to April 2019 to take a look back at Phil Foden’s first ever Premier League goal and a crucial victory that kept us ahead in our race for the title.

The context of the game will be hard for most City fans to forget. Just three days earlier, the two teams had met in the Champions League quarter-final at an electric Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s side won the game 4-3 but were eliminated on away goal’s rule and having suffered the heartbreak of Raheem Sterling’s late strike being chalked off by the VAR in the first season the technology was introduced.

Tough as it was, City had to overcome the setback as any slip in the Premier League would let in closest rivals Liverpool, with both teams in phenomenal form in the final weeks of the season.

The team had to dig deeper than ever to get the three points and it was an early moment of inspiration that secured a 1-0 victory that would keep us on track for a title triumph.

WATCH: Watch: All of Foden's 100 goals for City

Bernardo Silva’s cross picked out Sergio Aguero and the Argentinian headed across goal for Foden to launch himself full-length to plant the ball in the back of the net in the fifth minute.

It was a monumental impact from the 18-year-old who was brave on the ball throughout the match as an exhausted City ground out what would be a crucial victory.

“[It’s my] first Premier League goal so it will live with me forever,” Foden said after the full-time whistle.

After impressive performances in preseason and in Europe, it was perhaps the afternoon that hammered home the belief that he had a huge future at City.

The Stockport-born youngster had to be patient for his opportunity with the first-team but he trusted Guardiola was putting him on the right path, despite constant calls for him to go out on loan.

And 319 City appearances and a cabinet full of team and personal honours later, no one has any doubts about that journey, including Foden.

“I love playing football and when you’re not playing many minutes it’s so difficult,” he reflected on the Official Man City podcast.

“I had a few conversations with the manager and he said just be patient, look at the quality that’s ahead of you.

“But as time goes on, you will get your chance because the way you play in training every day and apply yourself is important.

“He said you just have to be ready when injuries happen and when you get your opportunity you have to take it.

“He started throwing me into massive games and I remember that Tottenham game at home when he started me. It was a shock to me and I ended up scoring the winning goal.

“It was moments like that he was trying to prepare me for and I just had to make sure I was ready.”

City v spurs app coverage

Our official app allows you to follow all of the action from the Etihad in one place.

Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, while our Matchday Live show will begin at around 11:15 (UK).

Steph Houghton and Michael Brown will be the guests on the latest Matchday Live show alongside presenter Cel Spellman, offering their expert insight before, during and after the action.

During the game you can also listen to live audio commentary from Alistair Mann and Andy Morrison while our text commentary continues.

Make sure to have push notifications turned on as well, so you can be alerted to key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and the team news.

We’ll have a quick-hit 2-minute highlights package available at 17:15 (UK), while you can sign-in to watch a free 8-minute edit at midnight. On CITY+ meanwhile, there’ll be our popular full-match replay as well as our new extended highlights offering which features the best 20 minutes of action from the game. Both are also available at midnight.

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