Thomas Tuchel receives Pep Guardiola agreement over Phil Foden positional switch | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has insisted he is in agreement with England boss Thomas Tuchel over the positional future of Phil Foden.

Foden has been a notable matter of discussion for England ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having returned to his best form for Manchester City in recent months and earning his first Three Lions call-up under new manager Thomas Tuchel – as well as his first England call-up in nearly 12 months.

The 25-year-old underwent a difficult 2024-25 campaign on account of physical and mental issues that, by Foden’s own admission, derailed the forward from producing his best form for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola endured his most challenging season at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the Stockport-born Manchester City academy graduate has been in fine form for the Blues since he opened the scoring in a 3-1 Manchester derby win in September – on his first start of the 2025-26 season.

Foden is a strong contender for the England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup should he build on his current form at the Etihad Stadium, though there remain question marks over where the Englishman best fits in for his nation.

Guardiola has consistently deployed Foden in a central number 10 role this term and with competition heavy on the wings and City needing creativity in the middle of the pitch, there is little need to tamper with Foden’s positioning, many would argue.

Tuchel has also admitted he prefers Foden operating behind England captain Harry Kane and the Manchester City star will thereby benefit from finally having a manager at international level who is in perfect alignment with Guardiola over the attacker’s positioning,

After Foden bailed Manchester City out of jail with an injury-time winner against Leeds United last week, Guardiola was quizzed on Tuchel concurring with how he has been utilising Foden at club level to get him back to his best levels.

“I’m in agreement with Thomas (Tuchel),” said Guardiola. “I like to play Phil (Foden) behind the striker, close to the box. The guys who have this sense of goal has to be close to the goal. But sometimes, he can be wide and being another player more inside.

“But I like Phil in central positions, I like, but he can play as a winger. But for me as a winger, Savio (Savinho) and Jeremy (Doku) and even Oscar (Bobb) have attributes, you know, because the other three don’t have the sense of goal.

“And if we lack a little bit the sense of goal, I have to bring people close to Erling (Haaland). Omar (Marmoush) is the case or in that position. I like the players like arrive and have the feeling that they can score. The big teams score many, many players. If just Erling is the guy who scores the goals, we’ll struggle.”

Foden is displaying signs of his 2023-24 self, when the forward led Manchester City to a historic fourth successive Premier League title and was voted as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year for his personal best season since he break into Guardiola’s first-team.