Phil Foden names Man City's alternative Player of the Year who was overlooked

Manchester City had three players included in the PFA Team of the Year, but the dressing room feel another player should have been included.

Phil Foden says Rodri's impact this season is well appreciated in the Manchester City dressing room - even if he was overlooked in the end of season awards.

Rodri had his best season for City since signing from Atletico Madrid, but was strangely absent from any Player of the Year or Team of the Season discussions. In the PFA Team of the Year, City had three representatives - Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne - but Liverpool's Thiago Alcantara was picked in defensive midfield instead of Rodri.

That selection was widely questioned, especially given Rodri's impact at key moments in City's title win, but teammate Foden says the squad are in no doubt as to how important he is.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Foden was asked if Rodri's contributions had been underrated, to which he quickly replied: "Not in our team.

"We obviously know how helpful he's been this year, he's definitely been one of our players of the season. Maybe because he doesn't have social media he's not talked about as much as other players but he's a down-to-earth person he stays away from all that.

"We know how much he's important to us and that's all that matters."

Joining Foden to discuss City's squad and their various ratings on FIFA 22 was Nathan Ake, who paid tribute to outgoing City captain Fernandinho.

"The defensive [contribution] on the pitch is for everyone to see," Ake said of Fernandinho. "But off the pitch he does so much for us, lots of the time he's the one to motivate us in the changing room before and after games to make sure we remain calm. We're going to miss him."