Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports
Topics: Phil Foden, Man City, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Phil Foden, Man City, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
Phil Foden could be seen laughing on the Manchester City bench, just moments after Spurs made it 2-0 – and fans think they've worked out why.
It was a first half to forget for Pep Guardiola and his side on Saturday afternoon as goals from Brennan Johnson and summer signing Joao Palhinha gave the visitors a deserved lead at the Etihad.
James Trafford, who became Manchester City's sixth signing of the summer after completing a £27 million move from Burnley, was preferred to last season's first-choice Ederson.
But the 22-year-old goalkeeper made a glaring error, just moments before Palhinha doubled Tottenham's lead with moments remaining of the first half.
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Cameras soon ventured over to the City bench as Jeremy Doku, Abdukodir Khusanov and Matheus Nunes looked on stone-faced, but to the surprise of many, Phil Foden burst out laughing.
Some fans on social media believe Foden was reacting to Spurs' away support, who could be heard singing: "Champions of Europe, we know what we are" as they took a surprise 2-0 lead.
One said: "Foden just laughing at them for singing 'Champions of Europe'", while another commented: "Foden laughing off the Spurs fans chant 'CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE!!!'"
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A third wrote: "So why is Foden laughing at the Champions of Europe chant? Are we wrong?"
A fourth said: "Phil Foden is laughing at the "Champions of Europe" chant," and a fifth added: "Phil Foden couldn’t believe his ears when he heard Spurs fans singing 'Champions of Europe we know who we are.'"
Foden struggled for large parts of last season, but Pep Guardiola is optimistic the midfielder will be back to his best in the coming months.
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“Phil is a top-class, extraordinary player," he said ahead of Saturday's clash against Spurs. "The last Premier League we won, he was massively important. He was the best player in the Premier League.
“Always I try to convince him he can be better, can read the situations better. But I never would doubt the quality of Phil and I only want his joy to be playing again and be happy. Phil is something unique.
“(Last season) was the first season after six or seven (seasons) when everything dropped a little bit. If he learned the lesson that would be great."
Guardiola added: “There are always seasons that you cannot be like you were, but Phil has been incredibly consistent and incredible in these many years, and this is what we are looking for (again).”