Guardiola backs Foden to do his talking on the pitch

Pep Guardiola backs Phil Foden to do his talking on the pitch after Twitter gaffe that saw furious in-form Manchester City star sever ties with social media company

  • Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to do his talking on the football pitch 
  • The Man City youngster this week severed ties with a social media company 
  • Foden, 20, was left furious over a tweet that tagged PSG star Kylian Mbappe
  • Guardiola has told the in-form youngster to let his football do the talking

Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to continue to do his talking on the pitch after a stunning fortnight for the Manchester City academy graduate.

Foden scored winning goals in both Champions League quarter-final legs against Borussia Dortmund and has kept his place in City’s best XI for the biggest matches this month.

The 20-year-old was left disappointed by an ill-judged tweet sent to Kylian Mbappe earlier in the week and subsequently severed ties with his social media company.

Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to let his football do the talking after a Twitter clanger

‘It’s not about what we believe in the past – it’s what they show on the grass,’ Guardiola said. ‘Footballers have to show every day. In football it’s the present, it doesn’t matter what we’ve done.

‘Today everyone is involved, talking on social media. The only way they can go is to do it on the grass. Everything we get is on the grass.

‘Not any other situations. He’ll carry on being there depending on his performance. Every game you have to win something to stay in this team.’

The Manchester City youngster was furious after a tweet was sent from his account this week

Foden, 20, tagged Kylian Mbappe ahead of their Champions League semi final this month 

Ten Toes Media, a London-based social media firm that lists Harry Kane, Andrew Robertson and Victor Lindelof as other top stars they look after, claimed on Friday that all social media posts are approved by the talent or their representatives in advance of publishing.

‘We are saddened with the current situation’, a statement published on Twitter read.

‘Since the company was founded we have adopted a process which requires all posts to be approved in advance by the talent/representative – no exceptions.

‘They always have been approved – that has been true for 4 years and is still true today. Phil Foden is a special person and footballer and we wish him the very best going forward.’ 

Social media firm Ten Toes Media claim that all posts are approved prior to publishing

Sportsmail revealed on Thursday night that footballers are forking out between £1,000 and £4,000 a month to firms to handle their social media activity. 

The amount players pay varies based on what level of service is required.

Industry sources have indicated that some players have no involvement with their own social media accounts at all, despite the fact it can take a matter of seconds to compose a post. 

Meanwhile, Guardiola is attempting to quash all talk of City’s pursuit of the Quadruple as they head into Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

The Catalan claimed he is just happy his team has proven they can reach the latter stages of every competition.

‘We’ve fought for the titles, I have respect for the players. We had no break after Lyon (last August) and look at what we’ve done in this tough situation.

‘Sometimes you spend years to get something and you don’t get credit. Everything you get immediately without effort is not nice.

Foden has been in red-hot form and Guardiola has told the midfielder to focus on his game

‘We know how difficult it was to get to semi-final of the Champions League so the happiness is even higher. We’d love to have done it before but we were there – and every season we were there.

‘Now they know they can reach the semi-final and that will be the target next season. Be stable as a club and fight again next season. But one bad performance – to judge four seasons because the Champions League doesn’t work?

‘I know we are good as we are in semi-finals. The margin was goal difference in the past. Now we were better but we could have been out against Dortmund. I’m more than delighted to enjoy the semi-final. Continue every day fighting and being ourselves. Now we want to reach the final of the oldest club competition in the world. We’d love to do it. Aston Villa then the Carabao Cup.’




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article