Thomas Tuchel receives Pep Guardiola support for Phil Foden’s latest England exclusion | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered his support for England boss Thomas Tuchel following the decision to leave Phil Foden out of the latest squad.

The omission of Foden was arguably one of the biggest talking points around the England squad reveal this week, particularly given his strong run of form in an advanced midfield role for Manchester City.

The 25-year-old has been instrumental for Guardiola’s side across September in particular, scoring and assisting in key fixtures to aid Manchester City’s return to a stronger performance level. Despite that, Tuchel opted to overlook him for upcoming internationals against Wales and Latvia.

This isn’t the first time that Tuchel’s squad selections have raised eyebrows, having now confirmed call-ups for City duo James Trafford and John Stones but leaving out Foden, while younger options like Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly were only included for Under-21 involvement.

Tuchel’s willingness to make bold choices has underlined his commitment to reshaping the Three Lions on his own terms post-Gareth Southgate, even if it means leaving behind some of the Premier League’s most high-profile stars.

For Pep Guardiola, Foden’s absence was inevitably going to be a subject of discussion in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Brentford and rather than criticise Tuchel, the Catalan has instead chosen to back the England manager’s judgment while reiterating his own admiration for Foden’s abilities.

“Thomas [Tuchel] knows what he needs for the National Team a thousand times, million times, trillion times, better than me. All I can say is if Phil [Foden] plays like he’s been playing, he will be back,” Guardiola said.

When asked whether he is ‘relieved’ that Foden will have further opportunity to rest for a return to Manchester City action in two weeks, Guardiola said, “I am happy that the players go to the National Team but I am even happier when they come back healthy. That’s for sure!”

“He is the best player we have in small spaces, in the final third, by far,” Guardiola said of the club’s prized Academy product. “Sense of assists, especially sense of goals in small spaces; how he turns in attack and the desire to score a goal – he’s the best we have.”

What happens next will depend largely on both Phil Foden’s form and England’s results. Should Tuchel’s men perform strongly against Wales and Latvia, the debate may cool, but if England struggle creatively, pressure could grow for Foden’s immediate recall in November.

For Manchester City, the midfielder’s omission ensures he will benefit from an extended rest period during the international break, potentially returning fresher for a congested domestic and European schedule.

Speculation will also continue around how Thomas Tuchel plans to integrate attacking talent moving forward. Phil Foden, widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted English players of his generation, is unlikely to be sidelined for long if his club performances maintain their current level.

Guardiola’s faith in his most successful Academy graduate remains unwavering, and both manager and player will be keen to prove once again why many see Foden as the long-term heartbeat of both Manchester City and England.