Manchester City Phil Foden foil Diego Simeone Atletico Madrid master class ahead of season-defining week

MANCHESTER, England — For nearly 70 minutes, Atletico Madrid put on a Diego Simeone master class at the Etihad Stadium. And then Phil Foden came on.

The 21-year-old England midfielder was introduced in the 68th minute, and less than 90 seconds later Manchester City were 1-0 in front and on their way to securing a perfect start to a 10-day period that might end up defining their season.

It’s Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League, followed by the return leg in Madrid next Tuesday, then the FA Cup semifinal with Liverpool at Wembley on Saturday. In just 20 minutes here, Foden made his case to start them all.

He was the difference in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg so much so that when the final whistle went, the goal scorer, Kevin De Bruyne, went straight over to offer a hug and a handshake. Had Foden stayed on the bench, City might not have found a way through Simeone’s rigid game plan and would be heading to Spain next week with the tie on a knife edge.

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“A difficult game against a tough opponent, it’s so difficult to find gaps,” Guardiola said afterward. “They defend so well, so compact and so deep and we need the talent like Phil has shown in small spaces. They can punish you on the counterattack because they are top, top players. Phil has a special quality. His reception is always forward and he has the composure to make an assist for Kevin.

“It’s a good result, unfortunately at the end we had one or two more chances, but 1-0 to go to Madrid is good. Honestly, I was not expecting to win 3- or 4-nil.”

Games against Atletico are, by Simeone’s design, often decided by fine margins, but Foden is good enough to thread a pinpoint pass through the tightest of…