Paul Scholes believes Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is a “much better footballer” than Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.
After City’s 3-1 win against United, Troy Deeney claimed that the 23-year-old’s uninhibited style of play reminds him of the days when he used to watch Ronaldinho.
The Manchester United legend has now also gone on to liken the treble-winner to the retired midfielder as a goalscorer.
Paul Scholes says Phil Foden is a “much better footballer” than Frank Lampard
As Phil Foden emerged as the match-winner for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Paul Scholes sang his praises and went on to state that he is a superior player to Frank Lampard.
“Look, he’s a better footballer than Frank Lampard but Frank Lampard scored goals and won leagues for his club from midfield. You expect centre-forwards to do it, your [Erling] Haaland, you just expect his numbers, you expect Michael’s [Owen] numbers when the team’s doing well”, Scholes told Premier League Productions.
Paul Scholes went on to praise Phil Foden as a consistent goalscorer, which is a quality he and the rest of the world associate with Frank Lampard, especially when he was at Chelsea.
“But from a midfield point of view, you’ve really got to take the game by the scruff of the neck and say, ‘Right, I’m going to get us back into this game. I’m going to win us leagues, I’m going to win us games.’ I think Frank Lampard was like that. I think Phil Foden is starting to do that, goals-wise.”
“Look, Phil is a much better footballer than Lampard was, don’t get me wrong but Frank won leagues for his team for the contribution he made in midfield to big games, especially. With Phil Foden, I think we’re seeing the same type of thing”, he concluded.
Phil Foden could surpass the Chelsea icon one day
In our view, it is still too early for Paul Scholes to claim that Phil Foden is a better player than Frank Lampard.
Perhaps Scholes is comparing Foden and Lampard in terms of their natural, footballing fundamentals.
But even so, it seems unfair to both parties to mention them in the same breath.
However, it would be fair to claim that Phil Foden has the potential to surpass Frank Lampard one day.
Considering the natural talent Foden possesses alongside how influential he already is as a part of one of the best teams in the world and the trophies he will likely continue to win, there are plenty of reasons to suggest that he could retire as a greater player than Lampard.
However, that is easier said than done, especially considering the heights the former Chelsea and Everton boss reached during his career.