Pep Guardiola Unveils the Game-Changing Secret That Sparked Phil Foden's Explosive Revival
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola revealed that Phil Foden's impressive recent performances have aligned with his deployment in his optimal position as a central attacking midfielder, where he can showcase his "exceptional" abilities.
Foden netted the opening goal and set up Savinho for City's second strike in a commanding 2–0 Carabao Cup triumph against Huddersfield Town on Wednesday night. The skillful left-footed player has experienced an outstanding September; tormenting Manchester United in the season's first derby before combining brilliantly with Erling Haaland against Napoli in the previous week's Champions League curtain-raiser.
Across his last four matches, Foden has registered two goals and an equal number of assists. The homegrown talent had managed only one assist throughout his final 18 outings of the 2024–25 domestic season.
Now completely recovered from injury, Guardiola attributes Foden's resurgence to tactical positioning as well as physical condition. "Near the penalty area, I believe he operates in those spaces flawlessly," the City manager reflected after the midweek cup success.
"When he plays with freedom and proximity to the goal, he can produce something truly special, as we're aware. When Phil operates in that role supporting the forwards, he becomes genuinely dangerous.
"We've witnessed this with Phil during these recent matches. When the squad performs at its peak, when each player reaches their potential...but it's not limited to today. The matches against Arsenal, [Manchester] United, Napoli, he was exceptional."
Foden Filling Kevin De Bruyne's Absence
It was a brilliant through ball from Foden that freed Erling Haaland, prompting Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo into a desperate challenge in the 21st minute of the previous week's European encounter at the Etihad. Antonio Conte, never one for emotional decisions, substituted Kevin De Bruyne to cut short his Manchester City return.
De Bruyne's summer departure might be seen as a challenge, but Foden has embraced it as a chance to excel. "With players like Kev leaving, somebody must rise to the occasion and generate more opportunities, and hopefully I can fulfill that role, and I believe I've demonstrated that," he shared with the club's official website recently.
Foden's peak performances occurred during the 2023–24 season when he earned the Premier League Player of the Year award. As Guardiola noted, he was functioning in a central capacity primarily due to De Bruyne's injury problems—who appeared in less than half of the team's league matches that season. It was Foden who battled fitness issues the following campaign.
"Many players competed while carrying various injuries, and last season, I accumulated several that I had to manage, and while it's not an excuse for my subpar form, it affected the entire squad," he clarified.
"I don't believe everyone failed to meet expectations, but I sense that now there are refreshed mentalities, new players, and we're prepared to begin anew."