Phil Foden admits “football sometimes isn’t straightforward” amid Manchester City contract doubts | OneFootball

Manchester City forward Phil Foden has reflected on the ups and downs of the season after coming on late in a 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal on Sunday.

The 25-year-old has struggled for consistent minutes in 2026 as competition for places in attack increased at the Etihad Stadium, with Antoine Semenyo hitting the mark straight away after joining from Bournemouth and Omar Marmoush returning from the Africa Cup of Nations like someone with a point to prove.

Foden endured a challenging 2024-25 season off the back of a PFA Players’ Player of the Year winning campaign wherein he led Manchester City to a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title and enjoyed his personal best season under Pep Guardiola.

However, the Stockport-born attacker has hardly kicked a ball so far in 2026 and with him being into the final 15 months of his contract, there have emerged question marks over Foden’s long-term future with his boyhood club.

Foden: There are ups and downs in football

After coming on in the dying minutes of City’s 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup final over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, Foden assesses his season so far while speaking to the press in the mixed zone.

“Football, sometimes, is not straightforward,” the England international said, as quoted by Alex James of the Manchester Evening News. “There are ups and downs and sometimes you can’t be the best version of yourself and that’s the way it is.”

However, having been called up by Thomas Tuchel to the England squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, Foden is eyeing a timely return to form ahead of a key return to club football against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final in early April.

Foden added: “It’s just about how you pick yourself back up. I’m still keeping my head down, trying to train as well as I can every day and hopefully, I come back after the internationals a lot sharper – and hopefully, I can get more minutes and be back to where I was at the start of the season.”

It’s still possible to claw title back from Arsenal’s grasp, admits Foden

Manchester City gained a gigantic psychological boost over title rivals Arsenal in London at the weekend as they look to cut down the Gunners’ nine point lead at the top of the Premier League in their final nine games of the domestic campaign.

“Definitely,” Foden added on whether the Carabao Cup final result can shift momentum back in City’s favour in the league. “There’s still so much to play for. We’ve got internationals now, so some lads can clear their heads and come back fresh.

“Yes, it’s still possible to do, we still believe in it. It’s just small steps in the right direction. It’s a good confidence boost and we’ll see when we get back. Everyone’s buzzing. Obviously, it could be a big turning point in the season. It’s definitely a big confidence boost as well coming into the rest of the season.”

However, Foden did not go as far as stating that the Carabao Cup final will disrupt Arsenal’s momentum in the league run-in. On whether it will derail Arsenal, he added: “I don’t think so. It’s a different competition altogether and I think it’s just good to win it. I don’t think it’s got anything to do with the title. There’s still a lot to play for.”