Erling Haaland has revealed how Phil Foden addressed his City team-mates at half-time after being sent off in Sunday’s 1-0 Manchester derby victory.
Foden was shown a red card after just 23 minutes following an incident involving Bruno Fernandes, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side to play most of the game with ten men. City reached half-time level and, according to Haaland, Foden then had a message for his team-mates.
Haaland reveals Foden message
“He encouraged us to keep going and to stay positive,” Haaland said. “Even with 10 men we’re still a good team.”
City backed that up in the second half, with Haaland scoring the only goal on the hour after meeting Josko Gvardiol’s cross. The Norwegian felt City responded well to losing Foden and even suggested the sending-off sharpened their performance.
“I think we became even sharper with 10 men,” he added. “We did really well, and I’m really proud of the team.”
Elliot Anderson offered a similar account of the mood inside the City dressing room at the interval. “We said at half-time that if we win this game with 10 men, it will feel even better,” Anderson said.
That was ultimately how it played out. United twice hit the woodwork, and Gianluigi Donnarumma was required late on, but City survived more than an hour with ten men to maintain their perfect Premier League start with four wins from four.
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