Foden lauds ´unbelievable´ Haaland after Man Metropolis star smashes Champions League file

Phil Foden described Manchester Metropolis’s record-breaker Erling Haaland as an “unbelievable participant” after he hit a Champions League milestone in opposition to Napoli.

Haaland opened the scoring in Metropolis’s 2-0 win over Napoli of their opening European encounter of 2025-26, looping a header over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic after Foden’s intelligent cross.

It was the Norwegian’s fiftieth aim on his forty ninth look within the Champions League, reaching half a century of targets in at the least 13 appearances fewer than every other participant within the competitors’s historical past, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s file of 62 matches.

Haaland has now scored 130 targets for the Residents in 151 appearances throughout all competitions, with 74 of these targets coming in 71 video games on the Etihad Stadium.

And England worldwide Foden was fast to bathe reward on Haaland, who he backed to smash much more data.

“They have been a nightmare group to breakdown. I believed we have been fairly intelligent and didn’t give away too many turnovers,” Foden instructed TNT Sports activities.

“The primary half was a bit irritating. I wasn’t getting too many touches between the traces. Erling is at all times going to make that run.

“It’s nearly getting that connection. He appears to interrupt each file going. It’s exceptional what he’s doing. What an unbelievable participant.”

50 – Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland has scored his fiftieth aim on his forty ninth look within the UEFA Champions League, reaching half a century of targets in at the least 13 appearances fewer than every other participant (Ruud van Nistelrooy closest – 62 apps). Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/zYrZGvGnkc

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 18, 2025

After his aim within the Manchester derby, Foden additionally had a formidable recreation, making a game-high eight possibilities, which can be probably the most by a Metropolis participant within the Champions League since Kevin De Bruyne in opposition to Actual Madrid in August 2020 (9).

De Bruyne, in fact, was on the opposing group on Thursday, having swapped Manchester for Naples over the summer season after a stellar stint with the Residents.

Nonetheless, it was not the homecoming many envisaged, with the Belgian worldwide changed within the twenty sixth minute by Mathias Olivera after Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo was despatched off 4 minutes earlier.

De Bruyne acquired a standing ovation from the house assist, and although not getting a full run out, Foden acknowledged he had already achieved legendary standing on the membership.

“He’s a legend of the membership. I can’t thank him sufficient for what he has executed. He’s eternally going to be a legend right here,” Foden added.

Metropolis’s victory ensured they began six of their final seven Champions League campaigns with a win (D1), since a 1-2 residence loss to Lyon on matchday one in 2018-19.

However Pep Guardiola and his group’s consideration will already be on Sunday, once they go to fellow Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal.

Metropolis have misplaced each of their final two Premier League visits to Arsenal, as many as their earlier 14 beforehand (W7 D5 L2). It’s their longest dropping run away to the Gunners since April 2009 (4 in a row).

They’ve misplaced 5 of their final seven top-flight video games instantly following a European recreation in midweek (W2), together with a 5-1 loss at Arsenal in February, although Guardiola believes their win over Napoli is a strong basis to construct on.

“Sure, it was [a perfect start]. We performed a variety of minutes in opposition to 10. Italian groups are unbelievable [at defending],” Guardiola stated.

“I’ve confronted them many, many occasions within the Champions League. The resilience, the main focus… I love them a lot. I’m very happy.

“It’s been a troublesome week and we’ve got an extremely robust problem on Sunday, however we’re going there with a very good feeling.”