Paul Scholes says Phil Foden can already be deemed a ‘much better footballer’ than Frank Lampard based on pure talent after his exceptional performance in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
Foden grabbed Sunday’s Manchester derby by the scruff of the neck after Marcus Rashford had put United in front with a 25-yard thunderbolt in only the eighth minute at the Etihad.
The Manchester City attacking midfielder responded to Rashford’s strike with a wondergoal of his own midway through the second half before putting the Premier League champions in front with a tidy finish past the impressive Andre Onana in the 80th minute.
After missing a sitter in the first half, Erling Haaland put last year’s treble winners out of sight in stoppage time and the result moved Pep Guardiola’s men back to within a point of league leaders Liverpool.
Erik ten Hag’s under-fire United, meanwhile, trail fourth-placed Aston Villa by 11 points down in sixth and face an uphill battle in securing Champions League football for next season.
Discussing Foden’s derby heroics on Premier League Productions, United legend Scholes said: ‘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. Haaland, you just expect his numbers, you expect Michael’s [Owen] numbers when the team is doing well.
‘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 and I think Phil Foden is starting to do that, goals-wise.
‘Look, Phil Foden is a much better footballer than Frank Lampard was, don’t get me wrong, but Frank won leagues for his team because of the contribution he made in midfield, in big games especially, and with Phil Foden I think we’re seeing the same type of thing.’
Speaking shortly after the final whistle, a beaming Guardiola declared that Foden was the best player in the English top flight on current form.
‘It is the amount of games he is playing. He was always a talented player but now he is more mature and understands more the game, especially defensively,’ the City head coach told BBC Sport.
‘He can play middle, right, make moments and cut inside, play in the left, scoring from the left. What can I say?
‘He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable.’
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