Pep Guardiola hailed the impression of Phil Foden after champions Manchester City continued their profitable Premier League begin with a hard-fought victory over Newcastle.
Julian Alvarez scored the one aim of a good recreation on the Etihad Stadium on Saturday but it surely was Foden who claimed a lot of the plaudits as City registered a club-record seventeenth successive residence victory.
England midfielder Foden teed up Alvarez’s Thirty first-minute strike throughout a vigorous show during which he regarded greater than able to filling the playmaking void created by damage to Kevin De Bruyne.
“I’ve said many times, Phil can play in all the positions up front,” stated City supervisor Guardiola.
“He has an incredible ability between the lines. The way he turns and attacks the last lines – it is one of the best I have seen.
“Every control, he knows exactly what is the goal. He doesn’t need two or three touches to get in the right position to attack the goal. In just one touch he is attacking.
“Managers adapt skills to the players we have, or the problems we have right now. Phil, I know how good he is in that position, how good he is as a striker or left wing or wing. I am happy because I have the feeling he is coming back.
“Still we are not at our best, we still have to make a step, but that is completely normal in this type of period.
“Here the biggest difference is the team showed to me, and showed to the Premier League, we are ready to try it again.”
Coming off the again of their European Super Cup triumph in midweek, the treble winners weren’t at their most dynamic.
Yet with Foden on the coronary heart of their assault, they repeatedly troubled Newcastle whereas efficiently stifling the guests’ risk.
The consequence punctured a few of Newcastle’s buoyancy after a shiny begin to the season however supervisor Eddie Howe emphasised the positives.
Howe stated: “They controlled it but you have to give them credit. They are a top team and that’s why they win so much.
“It’s disappointing not to get anything from the game but we’ll reflect and analyse and there’s so much to take from the game.
“We go into another one against Liverpool, which will be similar, and there’s lots to take into that match.”