TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand has expressed his belief that Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka needs to win more trophies and medals in order to be considered ‘world-class’ like Phil Foden.
Ferdinand points to Foden’s impressive collection of 16 major trophies, including 5 Premier League titles and 1 Champions League title, as the benchmark for Saka to aspire to.
Ferdinand emphasizes the importance of consistently performing at the highest level and against the best teams in order to be regarded as world-class.
He argues that Saka needs the opportunity to showcase his abilities consistently at that level before being considered in the same bracket as Foden.
Ferdinand said: “You’ve got to understand and respect and appreciate, Phil Foden has done this, where the medals are handed out, he’s performed. He’s done that against the best teams. Consistently.”
“Saka needs the opportunity to perform at that platform, that level, consistently and then we’ll see where he’s at. You can consider him then.”
While some may attribute Foden’s success to luck, his exceptional record in the Champions League, with 14 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances, highlights his talent and ability to perform on the big stage.
Saka, on the other hand, has only played 5 matches at that level, which may explain the disparity in their current perceptions.
Despite the debate about the world-class label, both Foden and Saka have had outstanding seasons, with similar goal and assist contributions.
Foden has scored 15 times and provided 10 assists in 36 games, while Saka has managed 13 goals and 13 assists in 31 appearances.
Looking ahead to the European Championships, both players are expected to be key figures for England, providing manager Gareth Southgate with two exceptional talents to rely on during the tournament. As long as they remain injury-free, Foden and Saka will likely make the squad for the Euros.
In conclusion, while there is a case to be made for Saka needing to win more trophies and perform consistently at the highest level to be considered world-class, there is no denying the exceptional talent and form of both players.
Their contributions for club and country make them invaluable assets, and their potential for further development remains very promising.
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