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Manchester City have been drawn to face Schalke in the last 16 of the Champions League, having topped Group F, and the Bundesliga side should face Phil Foden if Pep Guardiola knows what’s right.
The Chalkboard
Foden is the future at Manchester City. Yet the 18-year-old, described by Guardiola as a “diamond” and promised plenty of game time, has so far featured for just 438 minutes, spread over 14 games – starting just four of those matches.
A rare call to start against Hoffenheim was the midfielder’s first taste of 90 minutes outside the Carabao Cup, and the first time he’d played more than 21 minutes in either the Premier League or Champions League, but back to the bench he went at the weekend.
Guardiola has regularly brought Foden on as a substitute in recent games, and, with a new five-year deal pocketed, he will be seen for a long time to come. Although, are these brief appearances enough for his talent to progress? His first half against Hoffenheim suggests not.
Admittedly, it is hard for anyone to force their way into a side featuring prolific talents like Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva, but when such a talent like Foden comes around, space needs to be made to accommodate him.
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Schalke a great chance
Drawing Schalke in the Champions League will be perfect for Guardiola to hand Foden more minutes than he can get from the bench.
After 15 games in the Bundesliga, they have four wins to eight defeats. This is a side who came home second last year to Bayern Munch, having lost just seven times all year.
It will undoubtedly be more worthwhile than sending the teenager to stand by the touchline for another stoppage-time run out in an already won tie, only to send him back to the bench as the ball rolled around the pitch following a corner.
It raised even more questions when Guardiola came out after the Hoffenheim game claiming Foden was incredible and that “I would never have doubts about the quality of that guy”.
Jadon Sancho is showing minutes on the pitch counts
Borussia Dortmund’s superstar, and fellow Manchester City graduate, Jadon Sancho is certainly showing Guardiola that minutes on the pitch count for a young talent to develop.
After a period of time to settle in at the club, Lucien Favre placed his trust in the 18-year-old and he has been one of the stars of the season for an unbeaten side, even earning the league’s Player of the Month award for October.
Give Foden the same trust and game time and Guardiola would see the midfielder perform more like he was capable of in the second half against Hoffenheim than in the first.