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Phil Foden looked to be getting back to his best for Manchester City in the derby day win against United and Pep Guardiola was pleased with his performance.
Phil Foden scored his first Premier League goal for eight months in Manchester City's derby day win and was then described as an "animal" by Pep Guardiola.
Foden has battled injury issues and personal demons since being crowned the best player in the Premier League after the 2023/24 campaign, but he looked back to his best on his first start of the season, opening the scoring as City beat United 3-0 at the Etihad.
The 25-year-old headed past Altay Bayindir after attacking the penalty area to get on the end of Jeremy Doku's cross, and it's that desire to get into goalscoring positions that Guardiola really loves.
Foden was a big miss last season as his form dropped off and Guardiola knows he needs him back to his best. His decision to play him in a central area against United was an indication that Foden is rediscovering his highest level.
"We miss him so much last season. We need him so much. When he moves behind the strikers in that position, he has a sense of goal, a sense of turn, a sense of the quality to keep the ball," said Guardiola.
"I like the players when they play behind the striker and most of them pass the ball and stay and look how good they make the pass. He's the guy who makes a pass, goes to the penalty spot like an animal and has to score, and when he receives the ball he's angry because, give me the ball, I want it to score."
Foden looked ready to step into Kevin De Bruyne's shoes two years ago, scoring twice on the final day of the season to secure a fourth successive title for City and capping what was his finest season to date.
Now Guardiola hopes he can return to full fitness and give City what they have been missing in the final third.
"We cannot forget two seasons ago when we won the last game against West Ham here," he said. "He was the most important player of the Premier League. He was maybe the key player to win that league with the goals and the continuity.
"Last season, for whatever reason, for injuries, for other reasons, he could not be with us. This season either, for knocks and injuries and hopefully step by step he can get his best.
"I'm pretty sure the game like today against United, because he feels it’s a special game for him because he's an incredible Manchester City supporter He can be what you know, he's able to do enjoy happiness in his face when we see him every day lately."
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