Pep Guardiola is backing a Manchester City midfielder to get back to his best | OneFootball

Phil Foden returned to the starting lineup for Manchester City in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. Nico O’Reilly’s injury against Leeds gave Foden the opportunity to start at the Etihad on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, Foden didn’t have the impact in the match that he would have liked. Phil Foden looks to be a player who is low on confidence at this present time. At his best, the England international is a devastating player who thrives when he plays on instinct, with his natural talent and intelligence shining through. Pep Guardiola has backed Foden to return to his best if he relaxes and lets the game come to him.

Pep Guardiola is backing Phil Foden to return to his best.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s fifth-round FA Cup tie against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to return to his best. The Manchester City manager wants to see Foden relax, and Guardiola believes that step-by-step Foden will return to his best form. Speaking about Foden, Guardiola told the media: “Step by step he’ll be back. He had some very good things in the last game, his dynamic is still there. The moment he makes a step to relax and do what he does he gives us in the final third, make good passes for Erling and have shots.”

“That is what we want for Phil, to have the courage to be incredibly free in his mind and soul to express his incredible talent in final third. Get the ball, and turn and go, step by step he will get it.”

Manchester City need Foden to return to being the player that can be so damaging.

The 25/26 season started so well for Phil Foden. His move into midfield seemed to bring out the best in the England international. Foden had always seemed destined to become a midfielder for Manchester City. As this season began, it looked like Foden had adapted to his new role like a duck to water. He was having a tremendous impact in matches and was one of Manchester City’s best players across the early stages of this season. But from around December onwards, Foden’s level of performance dropped, so much so that he has regularly been a substitute.

Whatever the issues are that have caused Foden’s performances to drop, Manchester City need him at his damaging best. Foden offers a volatile threat from midfield and has the creativity and instinct to create chances that not many other Manchester City midfielders have. Pep Guardiola wants to see this side of Foden’s game shine through. Perhaps it is a case of Foden relaxing and letting the game come to him rather than trying to force the issue. Pep Guardiola wants Foden to relax when on the pitch, and perhaps that is the path out of his recent slump for Foden.

Pep Guardiola is backing Phil Foden to return to his best. Manchester City need the England international firing, and although there is no set path for Foden to return to form, the backing of his manager may be exactly what Phil Foden needs to hear right now.