The Phil Foden Conundrum: An off season or something bigger?
Manchester City star Phil Foden has had in layman’s terms, a turbulent season. The glistening jewel last season in City’s illustrious display of the world’s most elite talent, his spectacular tally of 27 goals and 13 assists in all competitions last season spearheaded City to an unprecedented four titles in a row; a feat never achieved in the English game.
Just ten months ago, Foden was a man on a mission carrying City over the line to break history as the first side to ever win four titles consecutively. Credit: Sky Sports YouTube
Fresh off of the PFA Player of the Year for his heroics for his club, Foden headed to the Euro 2024 Championships in Germany with supreme confidence. Fans and coaches alike were quietly confident that the Stockport born academy graduate would finally eradicate all of his woes and poor performances for his country, and cement his place on the world’s stage as one of the game’s most coveted footballers.
All of the hype Foden carried into the tournament ended with a wimper, as England’s number ten started all seven times in his side’s run to the final, without registering a single goal contribution. With City’s mercurial talent used as an auxiliary option, bring shifted across multiple positions across the frontline, never being deployed in his preferred position just off the striker; as he done so successfully with Erling Haaland for his club.
Jude Bellingham was deployed behind Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka was the only choice for the right-wing, leaving Foden to keep his width on the left and not really be involved, games passed him by and critics circled to criticise Foden for yet again failing to deliver for his nation.
The six-time Premier League winner was outspoken on his distaste for his position, telling the Manchester Evening News in January : “I feel frustrated I didn’t get out what I wanted to get out of it. The position I was put in on the left was very difficult to influence the game. Coming off last season being the best player in the Premier League and playing centre midfield, I do feel the position was quite difficult to get used to.”
However, in his natural habitat, surrounded by his peers in which he has been so successful with; this season has been a catastrophe for Foden, the 24-year-old has been a no show for City as they are set to finally to relinquish their status as Champions of England. Foden has scored 10 goals and registered 6 assists in all competitions this season, a reasonable number; but when digging deeper, half of those involvement came in a six game period in January and since then, he hasn’t scored and has assisted just once in 11 games. Just over ten hours of football. Alarming.
Then came the news broke by the Daily Mail in which they revealed the two-time PFA Young Player of the Year has been suffering from ‘mental fatigue’ this season and has even been suffering with ‘brain fog’ during training sessions. This bombshell report has also attracted the attention of his Manchester City teammates, who are growing increasingly worried with Foden’s condition.
The 24-year-old is a shadow of himself this season, with the extent of Foden’s mental woes are yet to be revealed. Credit: @City_Xtra on X via @Jack_Gaughan
With Manchester City competing in the first edition of the Club World Cup this summer, and just a three-week break before the intensities of the football calendar kicks in once more. If it’s rest and recuperation Phil Foden craves, it’s something he will not be getting.
If this problem persists into next season, with Ballon D’or winner Rodri due back from his Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury (ACL) and City due to intensify their rebuild to reclaim top spot in England once more, questions will have to be asked where Foden’s future will lie.
12 months ago, a move away from his boyhood club seemed impossible, improbable, ludicrous. Fast forward a year and the footballing world is potentially staring down the barrel of losing a player from the Premier League who should be it’s flagship for years to come.
The true natures of Foden’s issues may not come to light for some time, but Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel respectively will be praying they can get the real Phil Foden back sooner rather than later.
Foden’s Premier League 23/24 vs 24/25 seasons compared:
| 23/24– 35 appearances | 24/25– 24 appearances so far* |
| Goals: 19 | 7 |
| Assists: 8 | 2 |
| Shots: 105 | 50 |
| Shots on target: 48 (46%) | 16 (32%) |
| Pass Completion: 89.1% | 89.0% |
| Chances created: 73 | 41 |
| Successful crosses: 19 | 29 |
| Successful dribbles: 47 | 13 |
| Dribble success rate: 50.5% | 40.6% |
