Troy Deeney pays Phil Foden a HUGE compliment as he compares him with a Barcelona legend following his stunning brace in Man City's derby win over Man United
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Troy Deeney has lavished Phil Foden with praise after his heroics in Man City's 3-1 derby win over Man United on Sunday.
Foden scored a brace in the second half of the Manchester derby, helping turn the match on its head and help the hosts to a emphatic victory at the Etihad.
The 23-year-old opened his account for the day with a stunning long-range strike to pull his side level - after Marcus Rashford's spectacular opener - before the England star found the back of the net again in the 80th minute.
It was an imperious display from the Manchester City graduate and former striker Deeney has compared his game to Brazil and Barcelona icon Ronaldinho.
'For me, he's one of those people that, you know when you used to watch Ronaldinho play, the freedom - he's one of those people,' Deeney said on Match of the Day.
![Troy Deeney (pictured) has heaped praise on Phil Foden after his heroics in Man City 's 3-1 derby win over Man United](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/82003395-13153757-image-m-48_1709543933799.jpg)
![The 23-year-old was the star of the show for City at the Etihad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/82003773-13153757-image-m-50_1709543951249.jpg)
Troy Deeney (left) has heaped praise on Phil Foden (right) after his heroics in Man City 's 3-1 derby win over Man United
![Foden scored twice as Man City beat local rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/81984675-13153757-Phil_Foden_scored_twice_as_Manchester_City_defeated_Manchester_U-a-52_1709544014889.jpg)
Foden scored twice as Man City beat local rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon
![Deeney has compared Foden's playing style to Brazil and Barcelona icon Ronaldinho](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/82003389-13153757-image-a-51_1709543971907.jpg)
Deeney has compared Foden's playing style to Brazil and Barcelona icon Ronaldinho
'They don't have many of those mavericks in the game anymore. You give him the ball and you see like a street footballer playing and you're like: "Woah he's good, I want to watch him."
'And I think that's what I see when I watch him anyway.'
Roy Keane was also full of praise for Foden following the win at the Etihad and said that he has to be part of Gareth Southgate's plans.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane said: 'I won't be too hard on United today because City were brilliant, they showed why they're champions. City find out all your shortcomings.
'Foden stepped up. Amazing, brilliant player. City toyed with United. When you play City there's no hiding place.
'There's great competition in that England squad and Gareth [Southgate] is very lucky but Foden has to be in that starting XI.
'As brilliant as he was going forward today, the other bits of the game, his running back and doing the job for the team. For me this kid is an absolute team player. He has to be in that England team.'
![United took an early lead but Foden showed all his class to score twice to send City to victory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/81984851-13153757-United_took_an_early_lead_but_Foden_showed_all_his_class_to_scor-a-55_1709544185134.jpg)
United took an early lead but Foden showed all his class to score twice to send City to victory
![Foden scored a stunning first goal to level the scores up in the second half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/82000659-13153757-image-a-56_1709544197338.jpg)
Foden scored a stunning first goal to level the scores up in the second half
![After the game, former United captain Roy Keane was full of praise for the Man City forward](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/81984819-13153757-After_the_game_former_United_captain_Roy_Keane_was_full_of_prais-a-53_1709544162478.jpg)
After the game, former United captain Roy Keane was full of praise for the Man City forward
Foden's team-mate, Kyle Walker, also showered his compatriot in praise and revealed the reasons behind the forward's celebration.
Speaking to Sky Sports: 'This season Phil has been nothing short of first class. That's the standard he sets for himself. That's the standard the manager sets for him. He needs to keep that up now.
'We call Phil the sniper because he likes to shoot. When he comes in on that left foot you know he's got the quality and composure to pick his spot. He took his goals fantastically well.
Speaking after the game, Foden's boss - Pep Guardiola - reflected on the forward's brace on the day. He said: 'It is the amount of games he is playing.
'He was always a talented player but now he is more mature and understands more the game, especially defensively.
![Pep Guardiola (left) believes Foden (right) is the best player in the Premier League right now](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/04/09/81984665-13153757-Pep_Guardiola_left_believes_Foden_right_is_the_best_player_in_th-a-54_1709544181127.jpg)
Pep Guardiola (left) believes Foden (right) is the best player in the Premier League right now
'He can play middle, right, make moments and cut inside, play in the left, scoring from the left. What can I say? He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable.'
On the day, Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a tremendous long-range effort inside the opening eight minutes of the match.
However, Foden struck twice in the second-half - before Erling Haaland added a late third - to ensure all three points went with the hosts.
The first effort was a long-range strike that sailed into the top corner, with his second being a neat, well-taken strike that nestled into the back of the net.
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