Man City player ratings vs Aston Villa – Phil Foden dazzles as 3/10 stinker loses five out of seven duels
Man City beat Champions League-chasing Aston Villa with an emphatic 4-1 win at the Etihad on Wednesday night (3 April).
A hattrick for the in-form Phil Foden and a Rodri opener secured three points against the Villans and kept Pep Guardiola’s side truly in the tight title race.
Football Insider has analysed the City stars’ performances against Unai Emery’s outfit.
PLAYER RATINGS
Stefan Ortega [7]
Made a couple of important saves across the 90, including two in the 55th minute. He could have done more for Jhon Duran’s equaliser for Villa, but the second-choice shot-stopper didn’t put a glove wrong elsewhere.
Josko Gvardiol [7]
A dominant force in building City’s attack play but also typically defensively excellent. With four tackles, 92 per cent pass accuracy and six successful ground duels, he once again showed his quality.
Manuel Akanji [8]
Lost possession twice in key areas, but the centre-back’s 99 per cent pass accuracy once again showed why City splashed the cash on him. Remained calm in possession amid Villa’s pressure and sprung plenty of potentially dangerous counters.
Ruben Dias [7]
Looked suspect for Villa’s equaliser, but very dependable otherwise. His 94 per cent pass accuracy, 100 per cent ground duel success rate and five tackles proved vital in keeping Villa at bay. Solid.
Rico Lewis [7]
Assured going forward and did his part defensively when needed, having made two tackles. The youngster will have done enough to impress Guardiola.
Bernardo Silva [3]
Even the most observant City fan would struggle to remember anything significant Silva did against the Villans. Bar a few decent dribbles, the typically electric attacker really struggled, having had just one shot on target and winning just 28 per cent of his attempted ground duels, a measly two out of seven. Forgettable.
Rodri [9]
The heartbeat of City’s midfield had yet another outstanding performance. Got his side going with the opening goal and his passing ability was crucial for much of City’s excellence. With 10 accurate long balls, 89 per cent pass accuracy and a goal and an assist, he once again proved why he is possibly City’s most important player.
Jack Grealish [5]
More miss than hit. The away fans were frequently giving their former hero stick, but he showed very little of the quality that endeared him to Villa fans in the first place. His directness was nullified by Villa’s strong backline and with just three shots attempted, Grealish will feel let down by himself.
Phil Foden [9]
Villa’s wall was woeful for Foden’s free-kick goal, but the England international’s strike was no less impressive. He was a persistent threat to the Birmingham side and secured three delightfully-taken goals to bring his goal haul up to 20 for the season. Truly sensational once again.
Jeremy Doku [6]
Showed a few bright moments of his typical trickery in the first half but his impact was drastically reduced in the second 45. He secured an assist for Rodri’s opener but did not offer enough himself.
Julian Alvarez [8]
The Argentine’s close control in the box was very impressive and he looked very lively before his substitution. With five shots to his name, he was unlucky not to bag himself a strike, but City fans will be encouraged by his outing in the absence of Erling Haaland.
In other news, Blackpool, Bristol Rovers, Wycombe and Shrewsbury race to sign ex-Man City ace.
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