Txiki Begiristain has heaped praise on one Manchester City player for the way he has evolved at the club.
The Citizens could end their latest season with another Premier League and FA Cup added to their cabinet.
If they beat West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, they’ll become the first side to win four Premier League titles in a row.
After that, the Blues will once again face off against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup final.
With these two crucial games left to play before the season ends, Begiristain has had the chance to share his praise for one particular figure in City’s squad who has played a big part in getting the team into the position they’re currently in.
Begirstain says ‘unbelievable’ Phil Foden is City’s beacon
Speaking on stage at the FWA awards in London on Thursday night, Begiristain had this to say about Phil Foden and what he represents for the club.
He said: “He is a good example for us. We try to convince the other players to follow him.
“Of course, it’s an award for him and his teammates but I think this is a special award for Manchester City’s academy. He represents all that.
“A player who loves football, is from Stockport and is enjoying and being professional and adapting himself to the way we want to play.
“I’ve been here for 11 years so I’ve seen everything of him. He is unbelievable. He loves football. He loves to stay on the pitch. He is the happiest man. He is the first to go on the pitch, the last one going out. Sometimes we have to tell him [to stop training].
“Because of the players we have and the team, he has been sacrificing himself for the team by playing in wide areas. He is already asking to play more central. To have a player who can play wide and is performing and producing his best is a privilege for us.
“His progression has been unbelievable. He is 23 and I would say he is getting to the top. Phil has always played in the fastest way. I think he is now getting the maturity of when he has to accelerate the game and when to play more calm and composed and to keep possession. He is maturing on that.
“He is 23 years old and he has won trophies like an animal.”
Foden is City’s best representative
After emerging through the youth ranks at City, the 23-year-old has gone on to make 268 senior appearances since making his debut back in 2017 at the age of 17.
Since then, Foden has scored 85 goals, delivered 52 assists and won a lot of trophies along the way including five Premier League titles.
Having now scored 25 goals and delivered 11 assists in 51 appearances this season, it’s easy to see why he was named the FWA Men’s Player of the Year and why Begiristain thinks so highly of him and how he represents the club.