He even looked comfortable on his off wing, showing the versatility that Guardiola craves from his players. But he's since emerged from the sidelines with familiar vigor. "He arrived at 17 training with us, 10 minutes, 15, 20, here, here, national team, World Cup and Euro Cup, winning titles, and every year he was a little better than the year before."įoden's ascent happened so quickly that, eventually, he'd have nowhere to go but down. What happened is absolutely what should happen in my opinion," the Spaniard told reporters Saturday. "When I spoke with Phil, after he was having the ball and passing back, he didn't have the confidence to do it. 💫 /TORvJW9ALI- Statman Dave March 4, 2023 Foden wound his way through an obstacle course of defenders that seemed helpless to stop him, showing the belligerence and confidence that Guardiola had hoped to see again. After scoring a brace in the FA Cup last weekend, Guardiola's pupil starred again Saturday, driving to the net and scoring in a 2-0 win over Newcastle United that kept City on Arsenal's heels in the Premier League's increasingly competitive title race. The coach just wanted him to rediscover the fiery edge that catapulted him to the team in the first place.įoden listened. But Guardiola wasn't prepared to ditch the player he lauded in his youth. Now 22 and a full English international, Foden had reached what he termed the "worst" part of his career.
Troubled by his ankle and out of the lineup more than he was in it, Phil Foden had lost the sparkle that initially caught the eye of Pep Guardiola when he was a teenager with Manchester City's youth team. TheScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from Saturday's slate of action in England's top flight.
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