A Manchester City star is determined to prove the doubters wrong and be the player he always has been | OneFootball

Phil Foden signed a contract extension with Manchester City which runs until the summer of 2030 ahead of City’s preseason tour of Asia. It is clear that the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders are firmly backing Foden to get back to his dominant best. The past two seasons haven’t gone to plan for Fode. However, Foden did show signs during the first half of last season that his scintillating and damaging form does remain. Although, the second half of the season did see Foden’s firm drop off. In a new interview, Foden has stated that he is ready to prove the doubters wrong next season. Phil Foden seems determined to make a big impact for Enzo Maresca’s side.

The motivation is there for Phil Foden to prove the naysayers wrong.

In an in-depth interview with Simon Bajkowski for The Manchester Evening News, Phil Foden spoke about why his form dropped off during the second half of the 2025-26 season. Foden was one of Manchester City’s best players during the early stages of last season. His move into midfield had paid off and he looked at home in his new role. However, that form didn’t hold and Foden fell down the pecking order in Pep Guardiola’s final season as Manchester City manager.

Speaking on what occurred last season, Foden explained: “It was like a season of two halves for me. I think the first half of it was really good. I performed quite well and in the second half I couldn’t really get going and then get a lot of game time.”

“Obviously I’m an adaptable player as well, so it doesn’t help sometimes when you’re changing a lot of positions and it’s hard to maintain the performance of one position, but sometimes it just happens. It’s football. People who were playing in front of me was performing very well as well. And sometimes that’s just the way it is.”

Ultimately, Phil Foden missed on selection in England’s 2026 World Cup squad after his form fell away last season. Also, Foden is determined to use the criticism of his performances over the past two seasons as motivation. He added: “You’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt and then just try and react and prove people wrong and that’s all you can do really. A fresh start now and hopefully that doesn’t happen again.”

Manchester City will be aiming to do they can to help Phil Foden turn the corner.

Phil Foden is correct in his assessment that his form during the first half of last season was very good. It is a reminder of how damaging he can be as a player when he is in peak form. Unfortunately, the second half of last season didn’t go as well. But that is football, and it does seem like missing out on selection for the World Cup and the criticism of Foden’s performances for the last two seasons have lit a fire under him. A hungry and motivated Phil Foden could be a nightmare for the opponents of Manchester City to contend with.

It is also clear that Manchester City will do all they can to help Phil Foden return to his best. The contract extension they granted the England international is a big indication of this. The City hierarchy have not, and will not, give up on Foden. He is too good a player for this to occur and he is too special to Manchester City as a club to be cast aside. Foden has come out the others side of two difficult seasons. City have maintained the faith in him and hopefully it is repaid throughout the 2026-27 season and beyond.

Phil Foden is motivated to use any criticism of his form over the past two seasons as fuel for his fire. Manchester City know that if Foden is in supreme form, they are a different beast for their opponents to contend with. A hungry, determined and motivated Phil Foden, entering the prime years of his career, could be one of the stars of the 2026-27 season. Manchester City and Foden himself are hoping that is exactly what transpires.