Phil Foden explains Man City’s mindset for Man Utd ahead of derby

Manchester City ended their two-game losing run by beating Bruges in midweek and face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday

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Manchester City v Club Brugge: Match in pictures

Phil Foden claims Manchester City are fired up for Saturday’s 186th Manchester derby.

Foden says City are brimming with confidence after beating Bruges to put behind them their shock back-to-back defeats to West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Foden opened the scoring in the 4-1 Champions League win over Bruges as the rampant Blues took their goals tally to 41 this season.

Yet the England playmaker is also wary of the threat posed by United, despite their erratic form, and says they will also be confident because of their fine win over Tottenham and draw away to Atalanta.

“We needed to bounce back from our previous defeats, so winning is going to give us confidence going into the derby,” he said.

“We’re ready to play United whenever. It’s going to be a difficult game because we know how hard it is at their stadium with their fans, but we’re feeling confident.

“They’ve had two good results recently so they’ll be full of confidence as well. It’s going to be a really challenging game and I’m looking forward to it.”

Foden, 21, has known how big the derby is since he started supporting City as a kid growing up in Stockport at the start of the millennium.

He says the fixture means more to him because he is a Mancunian.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “Growing up, being a fan, I know what it means, so it’s going to be special to play in the derby.”

Foden is proving he is the real deal as City’s false nine ahead of the derby.

His predatory opener in the 4-1 midweek Champions League win over Bruges was his fifth of the season and he also has four assists.

Foden is revelling in his new role and his extra goalscoring responsibility.

“I’m enjoying it,” he said after the Bruges win. “It’s a new role for me, something new.

“It’s important to score goals being the striker in the team so I’m happy to get on the scoresheet.

“I’m enjoying scoring, it’s good for the confidence. All I can say is I’m happy to score today and I want to keep up the goalscoring.

“It was about bouncing back from the two defeats that we’ve just had so I’m delighted with the win as well.”