phil foden has always been the kind of player who lets his feet do the talking quiet sharp smart on the pitch and loyal to his roots at manchester city he’s been shaped by legends trained by the best and now he’s become one of the key figures in the club’s history so when phil was asked to name his dream five a side team people naturally expected some surprises but no one thought he’d leave out erling haaland the norwegian machine who broke records like they were twigs instead foden chose someone else someone he’s looked up to since he was a kid someone who defined a generation of city football sergio aguero
that one decision has caused a storm of opinions across the fanbase some think it’s disrespectful to haaland others understand it completely because aguero is more than just a striker he’s a memory he’s that last minute goal against qpr he’s the face of a city revolution he’s the man who made manchester city believe they were champions foden didn’t just make a footballing decision he made an emotional one
when asked by sports direct to pick his ultimate city five foden didn’t hesitate he named aguero over haaland and filled the rest of the team with city icons ederson in goal the brick wall who’s more than just a shot stopper he’s the first line of attack vincent kompany in defence the warrior the leader the captain who lifted the club’s first premier league title kevin de bruyne in midfield the artist with vision that defies physics and david silva the magician who made football look like ballet that’s a team filled with history beauty and power
but the big talking point is obviously aguero over haaland how can you leave out a man who scored 36 goals in a single premier league season who helped win the treble who terrifies defenders across europe the answer lies in what aguero represents because for foden aguero isn’t just a player he’s a big brother a mentor a legend foden grew up watching him he trained with him learned from him and even got praised by him aguero once said foden was his favourite player and those words stuck
aguero joined manchester city in 2011 and left in 2021 ten years that changed everything he scored 260 goals in 390 games and won five premier league titles not to mention fa cups league cups and more but more than that he scored *that* goal the one that won city their first title in 44 years the 93:20 moment that lives forever in the heart of every city fan that goal changed the club’s identity it made them winners and aguero became immortal
haaland on the other hand is pure power and statistics he came in 2022 and hit the ground running 90 goals in 98 games is insane numbers that even aguero would admire he broke the single season scoring record and helped city win the treble in 2023 the kind of impact most players dream of in a full career and he’s only just getting started so why leave him out the answer is simple history
foden isn’t judging based on numbers alone he’s judging based on the feeling the connection the legacy when he thinks of city he sees aguero lifting trophies silva creating magic kompany making last ditch tackles ederson launching attacks de bruyne threading impossible passes it’s not that haaland isn’t great it’s just that aguero did it first and did it when the club was still fighting for respect and recognition
fans are split on the decision some believe haaland has already surpassed aguero in terms of raw stats and potential and they might not be wrong haaland is still only in his early twenties and could go on to become city’s all time top scorer if he stays long enough but legacy isn’t just about numbers it’s about timing context impact aguero arrived when city were hungry but unproven and he delivered over and over again
foden’s choice also highlights the changing nature of football loyalty has become rare players move faster clubs change quicker and heroes are made and forgotten in a matter of seasons but foden is still grounded still attached to the roots of the club that raised him he’s seen the transition from underdogs to champions and the players he picked represent that journey they’re not just stars they’re symbols
some fans argue that haaland should feel disrespected but it’s unlikely the norwegian sees it that way he knows what aguero means to city and to foden and if anything he probably uses that as motivation haaland wants to build his own legacy he doesn’t just want to be a great striker he wants to be the greatest ever and maybe one day he will be but for now he’s still writing his chapter while aguero’s is already complete and iconic
social media exploded after foden’s selection some fans praised the loyalty others were shocked by the omission of haaland debates flooded the comment sections discussions about who really is the greatest striker in city history old school fans defending aguero new generation fans backing haaland pundits weighing in analysts pulling up stats but the truth is football isn’t always about stats sometimes it’s about the moments that make your heart race the memories that never fade
aguero gave city those moments in ways no one else had before and that’s why foden picked him it wasn’t a snub to haaland it was a salute to a legend the kind of respect that can’t be measured with goals or assists only with love admiration and a little bit of nostalgia
in the end foden’s five a side team isn’t about proving who’s better it’s about honouring the journey the players who built the foundation and the bond he shared with them it’s about what manchester city used to be and how far they’ve come it’s a reminder that behind every goal and every trophy there are friendships lessons memories and dreams
so maybe one day haaland will be in foden’s five a side maybe he’ll break every record and carve his name even deeper into city history but today in foden’s heart there’s still only one king of the etihad sergio aguero the man who made a teenager from stockport believe he could become a star and now that teenager has grown up into a star of his own paying tribute to the giants who came before him and shaped everything he is today
