Guardiola hails Foden after Brentford hat-trick

Manager describes youngster as "an exceptional, exceptional player"

Pep Guardiola has lauded Phil Foden after the midfielder's hat-trick helped City to a 3-1 victory against Brentford on Monday evening.

The Blues had trailed to Neal Maupay's 21st minute strike, but Foden equalised just before half-time before netting again twice in the second-half. It was the second hat-trick of Foden's career, and his manager was full of praise for the youngster.

"We needed it [Foden's performance] today," Guardiola said in his post-match interview. "I think Phil is playing ... the most [influential] season for the team in terms of goals, assists. How he played simple, how he can be more aggressive. He has the pleasure to score the goals and the threat when he's close to their box. Always he is there.

"So he's an exceptional, exceptional player. He is [young] and already has more than 250 games for City, that shows the impact he has had since he arrived."

"I don't know his limits," Guardiola said. "He will decide. For him, football is the most important thing of his life. Of course aside from his family and kids, it is the most important thing.

"It depends on him, but he enjoys a lot. He loves to play football. When you see players like him playing in the street when you are a little boy, you have this sense of amateurism [in the way he plays]."