UEFA Champions League: Phil Foden 'is world class' says Rio Ferdinand – but Bukayo Saka has more to prove
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ByOli Gent
Published 14/02/2024 at 07:30 GMT
TNT Sports expert Rio Ferdinand has said that Phil Foden can be considered "world class", but Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka cannot yet, as he has not delivered at the highest level like Foden has. Ferdinand was speaking after Manchester City's 3-1 win over Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg, where Foden scored the third, following Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva strikes.
Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between F.C. Copenhagen and Manchester City at Parken Stadium on February 13, 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Image credit: Getty Images
TNT Sports expert Rio Ferdinand believes that Phil Foden can be considered “world class”, but Bukayo Saka cannot yet.
Foden scored Manchester City’s third goal in the second minute of stoppage time 6.
Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva put City up at half-time, but Magnus Mattsson’s stunning strike from the edge of the area had the Danish hosts level on 34 minutes.
Ferdinand, speaking after the match, was asked by TNT Sports’ Laura Woods about whether Foden, who has 25 goal contributions in 36 games this season, could really be considered “world class”.
“You’ve got to look at Foden like he is world class,” the former Manchester United defender said.
“What he does for the team, he’s important to the team. The assists, goals, with the rhythm of the games, especially this season, he’s got to be in the conversation, or near that at least.”
Perhaps a direct rival for a starting berth out wide for England at Euro 2024, Bukayo Saka was also posed as another contender for the label of being “world class”, but Ferdinand does not believe that the Arsenal winger is quite at that level yet.
“I don’t think [Saka is world class] because he hasn’t done it at the top level, winning trophies in a team like this,” Ferdinand explained.
“He’s not [in as good a team as City]. You’ve got to understand and appreciate that Phil Foden has done this - when the medals are handed out, he’s performed. He’s done that against the best teams as well, consistently.
“Saka is more about, he needs the opportunity and platform to play at that level consistently and then we’ll see where he’s at and we’ll consider him then.”
However, both Ferdinand and his fellow TNT Sports pundit Joleon Lescott agreed that Saka would be England’s starting right-winger at the European Championships in Germany this summer, with Harry Kane up front.
Both pundits, former England internationals themselves, admitted that it was difficult to decide who would play down the left for the Three Lions.
Ferdinand said that “if everyone is fit and flying”, he would plump for Marcus Rashford, and Lescott nodded in agreement.
“I’d go for that,” Lescott said. “I don’t think there’s a bad choice [on the left].
"Everyone thinks that you can get it wrong and say, ‘If he’s picking him then you don’t rate the other one’. I don’t think that’s the case; there’s so much talent.”
Both men, who have 107 England caps between them, were in full agreement about the setup of the England midfield that they thought Gareth Southgate should deploy, with Foden as the number 10, and Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice sat behind the Manchester City man in a double pivot.
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