“City are back,” sang the Manchester City fans and this was the most compelling piece of evidence that, finally, they are. Phil Foden, with two goals and an assist, certainly is. And what a difference a fully fit Kevin De Bruyne, with three assists, makes.
It was also scintillating from Jeremy Doku who was involved in five of the goals, scoring one, as he showed just how much work Jack Grealish has to do to get into the team given the competition the England international already faces from Savinho. Eventually Doku and Grealish were on the pitch together, with the latter replacing Foden after City went 5-0 up as Pep Guardiola rested him, De Bruyne and Erling Haaland before Wednesday’s vital Champions League tie away to Paris Saint-Germain.
The manager called the game in Paris a “final” as City struggle to qualify for the knock-out stages and he had a swipe at having to play on a Sunday – PSG’s league fixture was on Saturday – and with a long trip to Suffolk. But, in truth, this was the perfect workout.
Above all it was Foden who summed up how different this City felt from the one that has shocked us of late. “It is good to see me back scoring goals with a smile on my face and enjoying football,” the 24-year-old said, alluding to his physical struggles through injury and illness but also unexplained off-field issues which have troubled him.
