Phil Foden is eager for Manchester City to build on their dramatic 3-2 victory over Leeds United in the Premier League. After a defeat by Newcastle United, Foden's 91st-minute goal on Saturday secured
City's return to winning form, elevating them to second place in the standings. The England player had initially scored within the first minute, with Josko Gvardiol adding another goal for City.
Leeds managed to fight back with goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha. Foden's early goal, scored after just 59 seconds, marked City's fastest Premier League goal at the Etihad since David Silva's 52-second strike against Watford in September 2019. Despite conceding two goals to a promoted team for the first time since April 2021, Foden was pleased with the hard-fought win.
"It's up there as one of the wildest games," Foden remarked. "We had full control in the first half. They changed their system in the second half, and we couldn't get going. " He described it as a frustrating period but credited their manager for regrouping them during a brief break. "We adapted to their formation," he added.
Foden acknowledged that there are still areas for improvement but expressed satisfaction with the result. He noted that title races are rarely straightforward, with ups and downs being part of the journey. "The belief and togetherness came through at the end," he said, hoping this victory would propel them forward.
Leeds have now suffered four consecutive top-flight defeats, matching their longest losing streak from the previous season. Despite not having an on-target shot in the first half, Leeds outperformed City in shots (seven to four) and expected goals (xG) tally (1.4 to 0.3) after halftime. They also created three Opta-defined 'big' chances.
Daniel Farke expressed pride despite the frustrating result: "We came here not for compliments; we wanted to win some points. " He praised his team's response after conceding early goals and believed they deserved an equaliser. "It was open, and both teams could have won it," he told BBC Sport.
Phil Foden's Determination
Foden was driven by a desire to prove himself after missing opportunities against Newcastle. "I was so hungry today to play and prove to myself I could still score goals," he stated. His decisive effort was described as heartbreaking for Leeds by Farke, who nonetheless commended his players' resilience.
"Overriding feeling is that we're disappointed because we deserve something," Farke said, acknowledging his team's commendable reaction to adversity. He encouraged his players to take confidence from their performance despite the loss.
The match highlighted both teams' strengths and weaknesses as they navigate their respective challenges this season. While City aims to maintain momentum in their title pursuit, Leeds seeks to break free from their losing streak and build on their promising second-half display.
