Pep Guardiola dissects Phil Foden’s struggles for form as Barcelona circle for Manchester City star | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has outlined how Phil Foden can rediscover his form after an underwhelming start to 2026.

Foden endured a difficult 2024-25 campaign in the backdrop of a PFA Players’ Player of the Year award-winning season wherein he spearheaded his boyhood club to a historic fourth successive Premier League title.

After an encouraging return to form at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Foden suffered an injury in pre-season that delayed his start to the current season but he more than made up for lost time following his return to the pitch in September 2025.

The England international broke the deadlock in a 3-1 derby triumph over Manchester United on his first Premier League start of the season and went on to impress over the autumn and winter months as Manchester City found their feet and identity in their first season under director of football Hugo Viana.

Why has Phil Foden struggled for form lately?

Foden has seen competition for places increase since the arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in January, with the 26-year-old Ghanian making a sensational start to life at the Etihad Stadium and already justifying the £62.5 million investment made to secure his services midway through the season.

Omar Marmoush has impressed since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations and with Jeremy Doku and Savinho also back from injury, Foden is more or less competing for the number 10 spot with summer signing pair Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.

City made a poor start to 2026 and serious doubts emerged over the Blues’ silverware prospects after they squandered leads en route to frustrating draws against Chelsea, Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham in the first five weeks of the calendar year.

Guardiola has since heavily leaned on a midfield core of Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Nico O’Reilly to build a stable base for a frontline that has regularly featured Semenyo and Haaland, with Foden not staking as strong a claim to start as others in his position.

What has Pep Guardiola made of Phil Foden’s recent form?

“Step by step, he will be back,” Guardiola said on Foden’s struggles ahead of Saturday night’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Newcastle United. “We have some very good things in the last game, his dynamic is still there.

“The moment we will make a step to relax and do what he does, he will give us in the final (third), making an incredible two good assists for Erling (Haaland) and making two shots, especially the second one.

“That is what we want from Phil, having the courage to be incredibly free in his mind, in his soul to express his incredible talent in the final third and getting the ball, turn and go, turn and go. It’s step by step, he will get it.”

Foden was far from his best in midweek against Forest and was arguably at fault for allowing England teammate Elliot Anderson the room to play a give-and-go and score a brilliant goal from distance past Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 2-2 and silence the Etihad Stadium.

On whether the mental element of the game is most important for Foden, Guardiola added: “Listen, talking about Nottingham Forest, he played good! I had the feeling he played really good. But still, we are used to him being incredibly decisive in the final third and it happens when you don’t lose much consequences, being free in the final third.

“These types of players, the big, big talents have to be inside of some organisation, otherwise it’s not possible. They have to express themselves. And the moment he unlocks a little bit one action, he’ll be back because always he’s able to help and do it.”

Does Phil Foden’s future lie at Manchester City?

Foden will be out of contract at the Etihad Stadium and it is difficult to imagine that the club don’t offer a renewal to their academy poster boy, but there are things to consider.

The 25-year-old has not justified a fresh contract with the consistency club bosses would have wanted to witness from one of Guardiola’s best players as Viana and co progress their squad rebuild in the upcoming transfer window.

Barcelona are reported to hold an interest in signing Foden ahead of the 2026-27 season but Guardiola and his coaching staff would be hopeful that the Manchester City star returns to form in the business end of the season to restore confidence in the board over a new contract.

It is inconceivable that Manchester City allow Foden to leave the club but the direction talks over a renewal take will majorly ride upon the Stockport-born attacker’s form between now and the end of the season.