Gary Lineker has named the four most important players for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City now.
At Manchester City, the importance of players changes from season to season.
For instance, last season, John Stones was arguably City’s most key player but this campaign, he has started just 12 Premier League games. Injuries have been central to Stones’ decreased involvement but even so, other players tend to step up to the challenge when a certain figure gets fewer minutes in a season.
Lineker names the four most important players for Guardiola at City
In the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker initially praised Phil Foden in the aftermath of Manchester City’s title triumph.
“He knows how good he is. He does it in a different way to Jude Bellingham, who has that amazing presence and aura and confidence but you can see that creeping into Phil Foden more and more now.”
Gary Lineker also named Phil Foden as one of the four most key players for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
“He’s not only established himself in the first team at Man City but he’s now Pep’s go-to. I would say [Erling] Haaland, Rodri and [Phil] Foden. And [Kevin] De Bruyne as well. He’s one of those now. He’s one of the big dogs.”
Tough to disagree with Gary Lineker
In our view, Gary Lineker is spot on about the players he thinks are the most important to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Kevin De Bruyne has perhaps been the £378,846-a-week man’s most dependable player during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium.
But then Rodri’s importance to this City side has reached an extent where Micah Richards claimed that when he does not play, they do not look like the same team.
Erling Haaland has a case for having been Manchester City’s best player since he signed for the club in 2022.
While Phil Foden has an argument for being the most in-form player in Europe, with Thierry Henry crediting him for especially stepping up for City throughout the season.
All in all, Lineker hit the nail on the head.