Foden's hat-trick against AEK Athens sparks fresh praise from Maresca
Phil Foden was the headline act as Manchester City eased to victory over AEK Athens in the Champions League, scoring a hat-trick that has sent pundits and his own manager into praise overdrive.
BBC Sport reports that Foden produced "a sublime hat-trick" in "a virtuoso display" as City returned to winning ways in the Champions League group phase, easing past the Greek side (BBC Sport). Sports Mole adds that the performance saw Foden join an exclusive group in Manchester City's history, and suggests the England forward has now strengthened his case for a starting role against Aston Villa (Sports Mole).
The scale of the display hasn't gone unnoticed by Enzo Maresca. According to the Manchester Evening News, the City manager gave a "frank verdict" on Foden following the hat-trick, with the outlet quoting the manager's phrase "We are sure" in reference to the player (Manchester Evening News).
A separate Manchester Evening News piece digs into the background of Foden's upturn in form, reporting that Maresca has opened up on the meetings he has held with Foden since taking over from Pep Guardiola, crediting that process with helping the midfielder "get his spark back" (Manchester Evening News).
Taken together, the coverage paints a consistent picture: all four outlets agree that Foden's hat-trick against AEK Athens was the standout moment, with BBC Sport and Sports Mole focusing on the quality and historical significance of the performance itself (BBC Sport) (Sports Mole), while both Manchester Evening News reports shift the focus to Maresca's role in Foden's revival, from in-game confidence to the behind-the-scenes conversations that appear to be paying off (Manchester Evening News) (Manchester Evening News).
With Aston Villa up next, Sports Mole's suggestion that Foden has boosted his claim for a starting spot (Sports Mole) will be one for City fans to watch, especially as Maresca's comments suggest the manager is increasingly confident in what Foden can offer (Manchester Evening News) (Manchester Evening News).
Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
