Phil Foden is showing signs of returning to his best form under new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, after a difficult period that saw him lose his regular starting place and miss out on England's World Cup squad.
The 26-year-old academy graduate had been a key player under Pep Guardiola, becoming the Premier League's best player in the 2023/24 campaign. However, burnout and inconsistent form saw his influence decline, culminating in him starting just three of the last 15 league games last season and being an unused substitute in the FA Cup final and both Champions League knockout ties against Real Madrid.
A Difficult Period and World Cup Omission
Foden was left out of England's squad for the World Cup in North America. He spoke in the summer about how much it hurt to hear the national anthem while watching games from home. His lack of regular football under Guardiola made his omission unsurprising.
In a tense interview in Hong Kong in July, Foden was defiant about his situation. "There are no changes I need to make. I just need to work on my own game and train hard and that's what I'm trying to do," he said. "You come through the academy, reach the top and then been the best player of the season, won the league that year as well. So it's obviously amazing. I have a good attitude about that."
He added: "When you're on the top, don't get too comfortable and then I was trying to prove it again. Obviously it's not gone like that at the moment, but I have still got a lot of my career left. I am still young so I have still got a lot to prove to everyone."
A New Manager's Support
Maresca has made a concerted effort to make Foden feel valued. He reached out to him after the World Cup omission and has held several meetings to emphasise his importance. The new manager has also given Foden more responsibility on the pitch.
In a recent Europa Conference League match against AEK Athens, Foden scored a hat-trick and spoke afterwards about wanting to set an example for younger teammates. A week later against Brighton, he scored a penalty in a shootout and ran to celebrate with Maresca.
Foden has also been supported by the club's hierarchy, receiving a new contract earlier this year. He has spoken of his need to "repay" the club for that gesture.
Back to His Best
Foden's recent form has been impressive. After a red card at Manchester United led to a month-long absence, he returned feeling refreshed. "I just took some family time and went on holiday. It was a very long time without playing football, which felt really strange. But it gave me time to work on things that I needed to work on. When I came back I just felt fresh and like I could help the team," he said.
He has since recorded three goals and three assists in three starts, with his confidence visibly rising. While an England recall may not come immediately, Foden is feeling better both personally and professionally and is again contributing consistently for City.
