Pep Guardiola has always combined carrot and stick when it comes to his long-time Manchester City starboy Phil Foden.

“I don’t have words. I would like to have the right words to describe what I saw. I’ve not seen something like I saw today for a long time. His performance was another level.”

Guardiola was speaking after Foden sparkled against Manchester United. Not his bravura two-goal showing against Erik ten Hag’s beleaguered Red Devils on Sunday, but after his first senior outing for City in a 2017 friendly in Houston, Texas.

The City manager has previously called Foden “the most, most talented player I have seen in my career as a manager”, with the caveat that Lionel Messi was already at a later stage of his development when he got his hands on the Barcelona icon.

Foden has also felt the sharp end of Guardiola’s tongue, the Catalan questioning his decision-making out of possession and whether he has the patience required to control the tempo when on the ball. 

But after the 23-year-old’s Manchester derby masterpiece — illuminated by a thunderous long-range strike to equalise before a wonderfully crafted second gave City the lead for the first time with 10 minutes remaining  — there was almost an acknowledgement from Guardiola that Project Foden is close to completion.

Ever since he became a regular City starter in 2020, earning an England debut later that year, Foden has been frequently excellent. However, there is a sense of a rarely intuitive talent now putting all the pieces together and seeing the whole 360-degree picture through the lens of a complete footballing education under Guardiola.

“He always had the feeling to score goals, in the training sessions. But now he’s winning games. To become a world-class player at that age you have to win games,” Guardiola said.

“He’s always been good, always had an incredible work ethic. It doesn’t matter the position [he plays] he does not complain. He lives to play football, but now he is winning games. 

“He played as false nine in Bournemouth and was unbelievable. Today, after he missed the first chance against [Manchester United goalkeeper Andre] Onana, he became a little bit anxious. That is for the age [he is]. He will learn from that. [Marcus] Rashford scored an unbelievable goal and Phil scored an unbelievable goal too.”

The City manager continued to lay it on thick, aside from an unusual concern over Foden apparently lacking a thirst for literature.

When I arrived and he was 17, 18 years old he had it. He lives to play football. I think the pressure for Phil would be, I don’t know, he has to make a [press] conference talking about the last book he read. But not about football. He loves it.

When I started to train him he was aggressive towards the goal and with dribbles but now he’s more mature. He understands what he has to do, before [in this aspect] he was not really good. He understands the games better.

The most important thing is that, all the fans today, when he got the ball close to the box had the feeling something was going to happen. Being effective or not effective is not the question. It’s the feeling that he will be aggressive to score. That’s why he has become a really important player for us and the England national team.

The headline-grabbing statement came earlier, though. Asked at the start of his post-match press conference whether Foden would “become one of the best players in the Premier League or whether he is already”, Guardiola replied: “He is right now, this season. Has been the best so far.”

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, City centre-back Ruben Dias concurred.

“I must agree, he’s for sure one of them,” he said. “He’s always been special, he keeps on being special. It’s no surprise for me and for all of us in the team and in world of football.

“He’s a special player and he’s obviously got a special ability. That’s why he’s Phil Foden and that’s why we all recognise the kind of player he is.” 

Is Phil Foden the best player in the Premier League?

The best player in the league is one of those endless and ever-engaging debates for the water cooler that goes on to the bar afterwards. For starters, Foden’s teammates Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland — the goal machine and one-man Poznan — might have something to say about that.

Similarly, William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk have been immovable pillars of Arsenal and Liverpool’s title bids and will be in the conversation when the end-of-season awards come around, as will Declan Rice having accomplished the not-inconsiderable feat of living up to a £105 million pricetag.

But players like Foden slip so easily into this conversation because of how they play. He captures the imagination, from his first touch to his gliding dribbles and increasingly stacked highlight reel of brilliant goals.

It’s tricky to compare Foden to other players in his position, given his versatility means he doesn’t really have one. But let’s take the other standout attacking creatives from the title-chasing teams. Alongside Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka, Foden stacks up very well indeed.

Foden vs. Salah vs. Saka Premier League stats 2023/24

Salah, as you would expect from such a consistently accomplished performer, has a more clinical edge than the two England youngsters, yet the gap isn’t as significant as you’d expect.

After his breakout season in 2020/21, Foden played selflessly in Guardiola’s 2021/22 false-nine vintage. Last season, a couple of ill-timed injuries meant he largely served as backup during the run to the treble, even if that included an impressive appearance from the bench in the Champions League final when De Bruyne was injured before halftime against Internazionale.

Foden’s numbers were always good but this is already the most prolific goalscoring season of his career with three potentially seismic months to come.

Phil Foden careers stats (all comps)

Beyond the numbers, the conclusion to City’s latest derby triumph and Foden’s part in it felt meaningful. His versatility has generally seen him played on either wing to accommodate City’s midfield conductors.

Julian Alvarez replaced Jeremy Doku when the score was 1-1 and it felt obvious that Foden would shift to the Belgian’s position on the left flank. Guardiola had other ideas because he knew who his matchwinner was.

“The manager’s mad because he told me to switch over with Bernardo [Silva]. It’s like he knew I was going to score on that side,” Foden told BBC Match of the Day 2.

Silva, despite being naturally left-footed, rarely plays on that side. De Bruyne also found himself out there as City poked and prodded for a decisive goal.

It was a means to an end. A couple of established stars doing what was required to facilitate things for the boy wonder who is now the main man. And Foden delivered. His performance was another level, just like Guardiola said all those years ago.