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The question: How did Phil Foden acquit himself on the biggest night of his young career?

Phil Foden gives the thumbs up - Manchester City FC
Phil Foden gives the thumbs up - Manchester City FC

Pause for a second and cast your mind back. It will be harder for some of you than others. There will be some reading this who are still to reach that point in life, those young enough to know adulthood remains nothing more than a blank canvass. But for the rest of you, ask what you were doing on an average Tuesday evening in November when you were 17 years old.

What had you achieved? What did you aspire to be? Who and what was important to you? Did you fulfil your early promise? Did you succeed in the career you planned for yourself? What life goals have you achieved since and what ones are you still working towards?

Then consider this. Phil Foden is 17 years old, he took his GCSEs last year and he still lives at home in Stockport. On Tuesday night, he made his debut for Manchester City in the Champions League, in front of his family, and ran on to the pitch to standing ovation. He is one of City’s own and they are desperate for him to succeed.

Adulthood remains a blank canvass for this young man, but Foden already has a pen in his hand and he is ready to start writing.

It could just be another tale of what might have been, a yarn about a brilliant young footballer who failed to live up to the early hype, another sad story of another wasted talent, but that is not what anyone at City thinks.

Phil Foden comes on for Yaya Toure - Credit: ACTION IMAGES
Phil Foden comes on for Yaya Toure Credit: ACTION IMAGES

This is the start of the first chapter of that story. This summer Foden was promoted to City’s first team, catching the eye of arguably the most revered coach of the modern era, Pep Guardiola, with his performances in the youth team. The Academy coaches at the Eithad Complex have been excited about Foden for years, but now Guardiola has spotted something special too.

A few weeks after being told he was training with the first team, he went on the pre-season tour to America. Two months after that, Foden went to India to play in the Under-17 World Cup and came back a world champion, scoring a goal in the final against Spain.

Still he has had to wait, made to watch and observe, to absorb what it takes to be a professional footballer at a team which leads the Premier League by eight points, with a goal difference of plus 33. A team that has not lost a competitive game since April. To learn by osmosis on the training ground, day after day, until the sense of wonder had disappeared, when training alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero became routine.

Phil Foden battles for the ball - Credit: AFP
Phil Foden battles for the ball Credit: AFP

And then came the nod from Guardiola, the nod that said the time is right, the nod that meant his City debut. Some players wait their whole career for a chance to play in the Champions League, Foden played his first competitive game in Sky Blue on European football’s biggest stage. It can only be hoped it is a sign of what is to come, the talent that is ready to be unleashed.

Guardiola, though, remains cautious, wary of over-hyping another young English player, resistant to the pressure to play him because City need to show a meaningful return on the huge investment they have made in their Academy system.

Foden started the game on the bench, even though Guardiola said he was ready to start in his pre-match press conference. Cautious, gently does it, the boy needs time, no need to rush.

It was a disappointment of sorts. Surely this was the perfect game for Foden, in a competition where City’s progress is already assured, against opponents who had not won a Champions League game yet. Guardiola's judgement matters more than the clamour from outside.

Phil Foden (right) in action for City - Credit: PA
Phil Foden (right) in action for City Credit: PA

During the warm-up, Foden showed no sign of apprehension. The teenager strolled his way through the pre-match routines. He looked like a boy, but did not look lost. Stroking passes with both feet, it took a few minutes to work out that his left foot is his strongest. A good sign.

As the game wore on, Foden emerged with increasing frequency from the dugout to warm up. The message was clear. He wanted to play, he wanted to get on, he wanted to get started.

Finally, the call to take off his tracksuit came, with 74 minutes played. His father and brother bounced excitedly in their Tunnel Club seats. Foden looked calm, serene. If his heart was pumping, if his stomach was churning, he hid it well. All he wanted was the ball. It lasted a total of 19 minutes, including injury time, but he will remember them for the rest of his life. He did not do anything spectacular, he was tidy, that is all – but this is just the start.

Man of the Match

Raheem Sterling

He was the brightest of City’s attacking players and was constantly threatening to get in behind the Feyenoord defence. When he eventually did so, after a sharp give-and-go with Ilkay Gundogan, he finished superbly with a delightful chipped finish. It was his 11th goal of the season.

Match Rating: 6/10

Feyenoord, who have struggled since they won the title last season, acquitted themselves well and might have gone ahead before Sterling gave City the lead late on. It was never likely to be a classic, given City had already qualified for the knockout phase and Feyenoord’s interest in Europe is over for at least another year.