Pep Guardiola has insisted that Phil Foden has the full support of everyone at Manchester City as he endeavours to rediscover his best form for club and country.
The 24-year-old was named Premier League and PFA Player of the Year after an exceptional 2023-24 campaign for Man City, scoring 27 goals in all competitions and helping the Citizens win an unprecedented fourth top-flight title in a row.
Foden was also part of the England squad that reached the Euro 2024 final last summer, but the attacking midfielder has struggled to build on that success this term, netting only 10 goals in all tournaments and failing to score in any of his last 19 appearances for club and country during a run stretching back to January.
City’s No.47 recently acknowledged that he has endured a “frustrating season” and also revealed that he suffered “bad” ligament damage to his ankle in the Manchester derby stalemate at Old Trafford in April.
“It’s been difficult. It took a while to heal before I can push myself back in training, I had to look after it. It’s been a frustrating season for me,” Foden told reporters earlier this week.
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Foden: “Sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football”
“I know if everything was OK, I’d definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on. Unfortunately I’ve had a difficult season.
“Now it’s just about improving and getting back to my best. I know my standards and what I can reach. I’m looking forward to getting back.”
In January, Foden stated that he had felt physically and mentally burned out, telling the Manchester Evening News: “I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally.
“It’s one of them – sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football. This season I’ve struggled a little bit.
“Hopefully come next [season] I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before, because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.”
Foden, who has started only one of Man City’s last eight games in all competitions, has been left out of Thomas Tuchel‘s latest England squad ahead of next month’s international break, including a World Cup qualifier against Andorra and a friendly with Senegal.
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Guardiola: ‘All we want is to help Foden’
When asked about Foden at a press conference on Friday ahead of Man City’s important Premier League trip to Fulham on Sunday, Guardiola expressed how keen he is to help the attacker during this difficult period.
“That is true, Phil has said that,” Guardiola confirmed when questioned about Foden opening up about his physical and mental fatigue.
“All we want is to help him, that is the most important thing. He needs rest and that is going to happen after Sunday. Step by step, he is going to come back to where we want.
“I just want to help him. That is what we want. I don’t care about his performance on the pitch. I want him to feel good and after, the rest will come in an easy way.”
Commenting on Foden’s England omission, Guardiola said: “For a long time he has been struggling with his ankle. What happens with the international team is down to Thomas Tuchel.”
Guardiola was also asked about whether Foden will participate at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States which begins in the middle of June, and the Catalan said “In principle, he will come to America”.
Foden is expected to be named in Man City’s matchday squad for Sunday’s clash with Fulham, but it remains to be seen whether he will be handed a start by Guardiola.
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