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Foden: I'm playing with a smile on my face

3 Apr 2024
Foden, Silva Man City

Man City hat-trick hero relishing more central role, while Rodri hails team-mate as "special"

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Phil Foden produced an attacking masterclass with a brilliant hat-trick in Wednesday night's 4-1 demolition of Aston Villa - and says that he can get even better.

With Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland both on the substitutes' bench, Foden, playing in a more central attacking role for Manchester City, netted his second treble of the season and admitted it is his preferred position.

"I'm loving my football at the moment. I'm playing football with a smile on my face," Foden told TNT Sports.

"I prefer playing in the middle and I think that this year I'm growing into the game, the manager has spoke on showing rhythm and slowing the game down, and I think I've added that to my game as well.

"Before I was attacking too quickly, now I'm getting the balance just right. There's still a lot to work on, and a lot to improve on though."

Team-mate Rodri, who fired City ahead in the 11th minute, says that Foden is evolving as a player every season.

"With this player he grows every single year. He can score whatever he wants, arriving in the box, he has a special quality, three today and so happy for him," Rodri told TNT Sports.

"Something we've been struggling with this season to face the teams at the top - beating Aston Villa 4-1 is not easy but we did it."

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"We're there, we knew we had to do our homework. We did it and now we focus on the next game."

The mutual respect between Rodri and Foden is clear, with the latter quick to return the compliment.

"I'm lost for words. This guy can do everything," added Foden.

"For me he is [the best holding midfield player in the game], 100 per cent. He is adding goals to his game. I don't see a weakness to his game, for me he is our most important player."

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