Shaun Wright-Phillips Praises Phil Foden and Rodri Ahead of Manchester City vs Arsenal Clash

New Delhi [India], September 21: Shaun Wright-Phillips, a legendary player for Manchester City, spoke highly of young midfielder Phil Foden’s contributions to both his national team, England, and his club, Manchester City. Wright-Phillips shared his thoughts at the Star Sports Press Room.

Phil Foden’s Impact

Wright-Phillips emphasized Foden’s unique playing style and quick movements. He said, “First of all, I think they play completely differently. I think it might be different now under Lee Carsley, but if you look at the way City plays, I think they keep the ball so well that it allows for those attacking three, four, or five players to rotate positions and find better spaces.”

He added, “We watched him do it against Inter Milan when he came on Saturday–gave him the ball, turned and went, got a foul. In many ways, he’s so unpredictable because he’ll just play that simple pass. When you give him that ball, when you think you’ve given him two yards, that’s not enough for him. That’s too much to give a player like Phil Foden because once he’s turned, his first four steps are so quick out of the traps, and that’s all he needs to let fly or put in a nice ball.”

Rodri for Ballon d’Or

Wright-Phillips also praised Spanish midfielder Rodri, suggesting he deserves the Ballon d’Or. He highlighted Rodri’s intelligence, positional awareness, and ability to both defend and attack. “For me, Rodri. What can you say about the man? I watch him so many times, and you never see him sprint. For me, if I can see somebody in that position who is never sprinting, that tells you how good his brain is in terms of knowing where the play is going to break down,” he said.

He continued, “Some of the goals he scored last year and the year before were massively important. Some of the passes he puts into Kyle Walker on the overlap, over the back of the left-back, are brilliant. Then, when he plays for his country, he plays exactly the same way. What he’s helped City achieve–he’s probably the longest-standing player to play and just not lose, just win everything. For me, how can you not give it to him?”

Upcoming Match

Manchester City will host Arsenal in their fifth Gameweek clash on Sunday. The match will be played at the Etihad Stadium and will kick off at 9 AM IST.