Pep Guardiola compares Manchester City duo to Xavi and Andres Iniesta

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City cruised past Huddersfield in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday, when Guardiola was finally able to welcome back a key man

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 7: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Huddersfield Town at Etihad Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has likened Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden's fledgling Manchester City partnership to the world-beating relationship Xavi and Andres Iniesta enjoyed under him at Barcelona.

De Bruyne made his long-awaited return from injury on Sunday after five months out, coming on as a 57th-minute substitute in City's 5-0 FA Cup third-round thrashing of Championship Huddersfield Town.

The Belgian playmaker slotted in behind Foden, who Guardiola moved into a false nine role.

Manchester City's English midfielder #47 Phil Foden reacts after scoring the opening goal of the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Huddersfield Town at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 7, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Phil Foden has started Man City's last six games in all competitions (Image credit: Getty Images)

And Guardiola sees no reason why the two of them can't continue to play together. Speaking to reporters after his side's victory at the Etihad Stadium, he said: "Always I am a big fan of the talent; why the talent cannot play together?"

"I don't have an argument. When I arrive in Barcelona, people say Xavi and Iniesta and [Sergio] Busquets cannot play together. Why not? If they are good, intelligent [and] smart, [they] adjust. Normally, we associate [with] the talent that they don't run or don't defend, and this is not true."

However, the City boss stressed that not every match will be suitable for a De Bruyne-Foden combination. He continued: "In some games, [they] can play [together]; in some, we have to struggle a bit; we have to think about it."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 7: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Huddersfield Town at Etihad Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

Kevin De Bruyne had not featured since City's Premier League season opener against Burnley in August (Image credit: Getty Images)

Foden bagged a brace as City made the ideal start to their FA Cup defence, with Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku also getting on the scoresheet.

The 2022/23 treble winners return to action on Saturday evening, when they travel to take on Newcastle in the Premier League.

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Tom Hancock
Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...