Manchester City enjoyed the luxury of playing the worst team in the group at home with Champions League qualification already secured, but visitors Feyenoord weren’t here merely to allow Pep Guardiola’s side their 17th consecutive victory. They proved stubborn opponents until Raheem Sterling’s goal with just minutes remaining maintained his side’s perfect record in the competition.
It was a game where much of the furore surrounded the debut of English teenage sensation Phil Foden but Sterling, a man once in Foden’s bracket, is a player who has well and truly come of age during the last couple of years.
The City manager used his programme notes to stress the importance of topping Group F, and warned against complacency when facing a team who have lost all four of their games in the group so far. Feyenoord's record mirrors City's all the way down to the goal difference, having conceded as many as their opponents have scored, and scored as many Guardiola's side have conceded.
The Spaniard took the opportunity to rest the likes of David Silva, Fernandinho, Fabian Delph, and Gabriel Jesus, who sat on the bench alongside youngsters Foden and Brahim Diaz.
The game appeared to wait for the introduction of the two teenagers, and with qualification assured it was expected that both would see minutes at some point regardless of the score.
Foden was handed the Golden Ball award at the end of England under-17s recent World Cup win, and Guardiola has spoken highly of him, commenting that he and Diaz are in the first team on merit rather than to just make up the numbers.
The first half ambled along with the home side dominating possession as expected, but ultimately not doing too much with it. Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva both found the target with shots, but they were straight at former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones who keeps goal for the Rotterdam side.
Kevin De Bruyne, who might have expected to be rested here, was at the heart of things as usual, but his cross to Aguero to create one of the best chances of the half was headed wide by the Argentine.
Feyenoord created a couple of chances of their own, and were unlucky not to win a free kick in a dangerous area when Ederson brought down Jean-Paul Boetius outside the area. The punishment may have been more than just a free kick, but the referee adjudged that the goalkeeper had got something on the ball.
Left-winger Sam Larsson created a chance for himself cutting in from his flank, evading a number of defenders before firing just wide.
The City youngsters warmed up with gusto at the start of the second half in an attempt to persuade their manager they were ready to come on, but Guardiola instead turned first to his Brazilian golden boy, Jesus, whose introduction finally gave De Bruyne his rest. The Belgian had picked up a yellow card shortly before being withdrawn, with the resulting one match suspension ensuring he’ll definitely be rested for the trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar!
Foden was introduced with 15 minutes to go, replacing one of City’s modern greats, Yaya Toure. The 17-year-old was the recipient of similar in attention and instruction from Guardiola to that given to John Stones during the former Barcelona manager’s early days at the club, and there will be plenty more lessons to come for Stones’ compatriot.
The wonderkid’s introduction gave his side slightly more zip, but their opposition still proved difficult to break down. Operating on the left of midfield he was able to link-up well with his team-mates, pull the opposition around, draw a foul on one occasion, and he eventually saw his side claim the win.
Sterling had moved inside to accomodate Foden, and a one-two with Ilkay Gundogan allowed him to evade the defence and then evade Jones with his shot which resulted in his 11th goal of the season.
It could be said that Foden’s cameo was important as it moved Sterling into a position where he could finally break the opposition down. Diaz arrived in injury time to round off the night for the talent spotters, and although he was unable to make much of an impact in the short time he was given, City had already done enough to win the game and secure top spot in their group.
