Manchester City forward Phil Foden has described a teammate as a “world-class” player after his performance which inspire Pep Guardiola’s side to 2-0 victory against Everton at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland’s performance against Everton once again proved decisive, scoring twice in just five minutes during the second half to secure another crucial three points for City.
Haaland’s brace took his tally to 11 goals in just eight league appearances this season, underlining his extraordinary consistency in front of goal.
To put that feat into perspective, only three times in Premier League history has a player scored 10 or more goals in the opening eight games of a campaign—and all three occasions belong to Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian’s impact since arriving in England has been nothing short of historic, and his current form shows no sign of slowing down.
Foden: “He’s Always There for Us at the Right Times”
After the match, Foden was full of admiration for his teammate, praising Haaland’s movement, patience, and clinical edge.
“We know he’s got that quality to time his runs to perfection and always be in the right position,” Foden said in his post-match interview
“We know if they mark him out of the game he’s still capable of scoring. He doesn’t lose concentration and you know he only needs one chance to score.”
The England international, who was instrumental in both of City’s goals, described Haaland’s ability to stay focused under pressure as a defining trait of an elite player.
“He remained very patient and as you can see he’s always there for us at the right times and this is a sign of a world-class striker,” Foden continued.
For much of the first half, City struggled to find their rhythm against a well-organised Everton side. The hosts were slow in possession and struggled to exploit spaces between the lines.
However, according to Foden, Guardiola’s half-time instructions transformed the team’s approach in the second period.
“It was difficult. I think in the first half we weren’t really at it,” he admitted. “We weren’t playing forward as quick as we could do. We took too long on the ball and we couldn’t find the space in between the lines.
“The manager spoke about it at half time. In the second half we were much more meaningful going forward, breaking lines and we had a lot of chances, we created a lot. Overall we can be happy with the performance.”
That tactical switch immediately paid off, with City’s tempo and creativity returning to their usual high standards.
Masterful Foden Orchestrates City’s Win
Even though Erling Haaland’s performance against Everton was being talked about, Foden also had a good game. He directly involved in both goals on the night, showcasing his evolution into one of City’s most influential players.
For the first, he played a perfectly weighted pass to Nico O’Reilly, who crossed for Haaland to finish clinically. Moments later, he combined brilliantly with Savinho, whose assist allowed Haaland to double City’s lead with another instinctive strike.
The 25-year-old midfielder was unlucky not to add an assist late on when he picked out Haaland with a remarkable curling pass deep into stoppage time.
The Norwegian was denied his hat-trick only by the reflexes of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who produced an outstanding save to keep the scoreline respectable.
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Haaland’s brace also continued a remarkable personal run—he has now scored in 11 consecutive matches for club and country. His ability to deliver consistently at such a high level, regardless of opposition or occasion, has cemented his status as one of world football’s most lethal forwards.
For Foden, who has grown alongside Haaland since the striker’s arrival in 2022, their partnership continues to flourish. The England star’s understanding of Haaland’s movement and finishing instincts has added a new dimension to City’s attack, one that often seems unstoppable when in full flow.
