 |
Foden has lost his place at Manchester City. |
Just a year ago, Phil Foden was the central figure in Manchester City's success story – a Premier League hero and the embodiment of Pep Guardiola's football philosophy. Now, he stands on the sidelines, an unwilling witness to the Spanish manager's tactical shift.
The 2023/24 season was the most brilliant period of Phil Foden's career. With 27 goals and 13 assists, the English midfielder was not only Manchester City's brightest star but also the Premier League's best player. When Kevin De Bruyne was sidelined with injury in the first half of the season, Foden shouldered the responsibility of leading "The Citizens'" play.
"Phil is the perfect embodiment of our philosophy," Guardiola once said of his favorite pupil after lifting the Premier League trophy for the fourth consecutive time. "He is the future of Manchester City."
But football is a tough sport of the present, not the past or the future. And Phil Foden's present is a completely different story.
 |
The 2024/25 season turned out to be a nightmare for Foden. |
The 2024/25 season turned out to be a nightmare for Foden. After participating in EURO 2024 with England, he didn't get the necessary rest to recover. The result was a series of fitness problems and inconsistent form.
"Foden paid the price for not getting enough rest," a source from within the club revealed. "He was always trying to play while his body was sending warning signals."
Despite a promising start to 2025 with 6 goals and 1 assist in his first 4 games, Foden quickly faltered in crucial matches. He was completely silent in the Champions League clashes against Real Madrid, and disappeared in key matches against Arsenal and Liverpool – defeats that cost Manchester City their Premier League title after four years of dominance.
In Man City's last five matches, Foden has only featured once – in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, where he was completely ineffective, a far cry from the player who scored six goals in four encounters with the "Red Devils" last season.
What could be more painful than witnessing Guardiola – the man who once led him to glory – now "devaluing" Foden by benching him in crucial matches against Leicester, Everton, and Aston Villa? Even in the recent match against Aston Villa, Pep prioritized giving a chance to James McAtee – a much younger and less well-known player than Foden.
"I've been unfair to the wingers," Guardiola admitted in a recent press conference. "We are focusing on building a team with more players in the center."
This admission comes as a major blow to Foden, who was once Manchester City's brightest star on the wing.
 |
Can Phil Foden overcome this difficult period to regain his place in the Manchester City squad? |
While Foden was sidelined watching his teammates play, De Bruyne fully recovered and regained his place. Doku and Savinho – promising new signings – are also gradually gaining Guardiola's trust.
Even with Erling Haaland's injury forcing Guardiola to adjust his tactics, Foden remained a non-first-choice option. This raises a big question: Does Foden still have a place in "The Citizens'" long-term plans?
"Phil is at a crucial stage in his career," the English media commented. "He's too good to accept a reserve role, but it seems Guardiola wants to build a Manchester City without Foden as the central figure."
With his contract still valid and his star status already established, Foden's story at Etihad is far from over. However, if the situation doesn't improve, it's not out of the question that this talented midfielder will seek a new challenge next summer.
Can Phil Foden overcome this difficult period to regain his place in the Manchester City lineup? Or is a new chapter awaiting him at a different club? The only thing certain is that under Guardiola's reign, no position is untouchable – even if you were once the team's brightest star.
Source: https://znews.vn/foden-tu-so-1-thanh-nguoi-thua-post1548436.html
Comment (0)