Pep Guardiola has expressed his deep desire to see Phil Foden rediscover his happiness and joy on the football pitch. The Manchester City manager is eager for Foden to return to full fitness and consistently display a smiling face in training, contributing his best to the team.
Foden, a key creative outlet for City, endured a frustrating 2024-25 season, marked by only 20 Premier League starts, seven goals, and two assists. This was a significant drop from the previous season when he was named player of the year, having recorded 33 starts, 19 goals, and eight assists as City clinched their fourth successive title. Fitness issues hampered his momentum, and the start of the new term has been similarly challenging, with the 25-year-old playing just 15 minutes in City's opening three games.
Guardiola emphasized Foden's importance to the team, particularly with Kevin De Bruyne's departure. He highlighted that one of the reasons for City's struggles last season was Foden's absence in the final third, where his creativity and work ethic were sorely missed. Guardiola stated that he is constantly looking for Foden to feel happy and contribute with joy in every training session.
Foden's struggles are in stark contrast to his stellar 2023/24 campaign, where he played a crucial role in City's fourth consecutive Premier League title, scoring 19 goals and providing eight assists, ultimately earning him the Premier League Player of the Year award. However, his form dipped after an underwhelming summer.
Despite the recent setbacks, Guardiola has seen glimpses of Foden returning to his best. Foden appeared to be in good form during the Club World Cup in the summer, seemingly benefiting from a rest at the end of last season. However, further ankle injury issues have since hindered his progress. Guardiola acknowledged this pattern, noting that Foden would show signs of recovery, only to be set back by another knock.
Guardiola's support for Foden extends beyond just his on-field performance. He wants Foden to feel good, emphasizing that his well-being is more important than his performance on the pitch. Guardiola's words of encouragement suggest a desire to help Foden regain his confidence and enjoy his football once again.
Notably, Guardiola once fined himself after an outburst aimed at Foden during a game against FC Porto in 2020. Foden confronted Guardiola about the incident, which Guardiola responded to positively by apologizing to Foden and addressing the incident with the entire squad. Guardiola viewed this as Foden's transition from boy to man. This anecdote highlights Guardiola's commitment to Foden's development, both as a player and as an individual.
