Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden says he is gradually returning to his best form after scoring a hat-trick in the club’s emphatic 5-1 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League.
The 26-year-old delivered a clinical display at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday as City continued their impressive run, scoring three times to help secure a convincing win.
Foden doubled City’s lead after Elliot Anderson opened the scoring, finishing sharply to put the hosts in control. Rayan Cherki extended the advantage after AEK briefly threatened a comeback, before Foden struck twice more to complete his hat-trick and claim the match ball.
His performance was particularly encouraging for City, who started without striker Erling Haaland. With Antoine Semenyo also sidelined for two months, Foden finished the match in a false nine role, a position he said he enjoyed.
Speaking after the match, Foden admitted City were not at their best throughout the encounter but praised his team-mates for sticking to their game plan.
“I enjoyed that a lot,” Foden said, via mancity.com.
“The lads were great again. We showed determination again, it wasn’t pretty at times. We were giving sloppy passes away.
“But, we stuck at the game plan and we kept going and in the end we broke them down. Overall I’m delighted. [My favourite goal is] probably the second to be honest. The way it went in.”
The England international said scoring regularly would boost his confidence and help him contribute more to the team.
“I’m delighted to score goals now, I’m a forward so I have to keep scoring and helping the team. It’ll only do good for my confidence.”
Despite his three-goal performance, Foden insisted he still had work to do before reaching his top level, although he was encouraged by his progress.
“Slowly but surely [getting back to my best], still got a long way to go. I’m going in the right direction. Scoring along the way definitely helps.”
He added that his priority was to keep working hard and delivering for manager Enzo Maresca and the team, while explaining why he enjoyed playing as a false nine.
“I’ve just got to keep working hard and try to be as best as I can for the manager and for the team. Especially when I changed into the false 9 role, I really enjoyed it a lot. In between the lines and in the pockets where I like to be and linking the play. I really enjoyed that role tonight.”
Foden’s hat-trick offers City another attacking option while Haaland is absent, with the midfielder showing he can lead the line and link play when deployed centrally.
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