Pep Guardiola has full faith that a key Manchester City player will return to his best | OneFootball

Phil Foden’s form has been in the spotlight throughout the most recent international break. England manager Thomas Tuchel said after England’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Japan that Foden wasn’t guaranteed a spot in England’s World Cup squad. Tuchel’s comments have sparked debate about whether or not Foden deserves a spot in England’s World Cup squad this summer. Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to return to his best, as the Manchester City manager threw his support behind Foden yesterday. Guardiola believes that Foden is suffering a blip in his career in regards to his form and that Phil Foden will return to his devastating best.

Pep Guardiola has no doubt that Phil Foden will rediscover his best.

With Phil Foden being the subject of media scrutiny, Pep Guardiola was asked about his form yesterday. The Manchester City manager explained that Foden is suffering an extended dip in his form for the first time in his career. He added that he fully expects Foden to come out the other side of his drop in form. When asked about Phil Foden yesterday, Pep Guardiola said: “He’s 25, he’s won six PLs and a lot of things. The contribution is incredible. It’s a normal process in a long, long career. It’s a normal situation. He will click and be back.”

Speaking in the embargoed section of his pre-game press conference ahead of Manchester City’s FA quarter-final clash with Liverpool, Pep Guardiola further explained how important Foden is to his team. He added: “Until November, alongside Erling Haaland, he was massively important. Erling and him was the only one to make goals and assists in Manchester City.”

“But he’s not 32 or 33 years old, incredible full experience. At 24 or 25, you’re still growing, still developing as a player. But always you want [to be] in a hurry. For example, now in friendly games with the national team or you lose, ‘Ah it’s a disaster’. Everything has to be in a rush. You go to pre-season, you lose, ‘Oh the manager must be sacked!’ In pre-season! Today world football is like that.”

“He’s the same player. I know… He’ll come back because the talent’s there. He’s done since five, six years ago, the fourth Premier League in a row he was the best player in England, the best. We could not have won without him. But sometimes we drop a little, he’s aware. Take it like a challenge, he will be back.”

Manchester City know the weapon they have in Phil Foden when is at his best.

It is no surprise to see Pep Guardiola back Phil Foden. Foden has been a key player for Manchester City ever since he rose through their academy ranks. Phil Foden’s résumé speaks for itself, and there are players who have played their entire careers without half of the accolades that he has achieved. Having said that, besides Foden’s form at the beginning of this season, the past two seasons have seen him dip well below his expected level of performance.

For the first time in his career, Phil Foden hasn’t reached the heights expected of him. We saw this throughout the 2024/25 season. That run of form has hit again in 2026. The only way Foden can come out of it is to play his way back into form. There is no other way. Phil Foden’s performances for England during the recent international break weren’t up to his usual high standards. But you do wonder if being played out of position affects Foden’s performances for his country.

At Manchester City, and playing under Pep Guardiola, Phil Foden will be backed until he gets back to his best. There is no doubt about that. Pep Guardiola’s comments yesterday illustrate this point. It will be up to Foden to get back into form. There is no doubt that he will; he’s too good not to. It is just a matter of when. When Phil Foden does start dazzling on the pitch again, his current run of form will be long forgotten.