Phil Foden reveals mental struggle and ongoing injury problem behind Manchester City downfall | OneFootball

Manchester City star Phil Foden has provided an honest insight into the struggles of his season for the club, off the back of significant success during the last campaign.

Last season’s Player of the Year for the Etihad Stadium club has significantly fallen off in form, performance, and ability to remain consistently available in the biggest of moments for Pep Guardiola this season.

Many of questioned exactly where it has gone wrong for Foden, with some believing that it could be a case of burnout after an outstanding rise with Manchester City and a staggering haul of success by the age of just 24.

Others have pointed towards what appears to be a clear lack of fitness when called upon by Guardiola, with a further setback sustained during the 0-0 draw with Manchester United in the last few months.

Now, as the season finally comes to a close on Sunday afternoon, Phil Foden himself has looked towards the summer and the off-season, as he hopes to get himself rested, back to full fitness, and readily available at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

“I know if everything was OK, I’d definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on. Unfortunately I’ve had a difficult season,” Foden said this week.

“Now it’s just about improving and getting back to my best. I know my standards and what I can reach. I’m looking forward to getting back. I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally,” he revealed.

“It’s one of them – sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football. This season I’ve struggled a little bit. Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before – because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.”

Phil Foden has also been suffering from an ankle problem that was aggravated during the 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford, and when asked whether he simply needs to rest sufficiently, the Stockport-born star said, “Obviously it’s a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner.

“It’s something we have to speak with the club and national team to see maybe if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100% back how I want it. I just don’t know at the moment. It’s a conversation to be had and we’ll see what happens.”

Thankfully for both Foden and Manchester City, that request has been granted by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has opted to leave the Etihad Stadium superstar out of the upcoming squad list for international fixtures.

It means that Pep Guardiola could have a fully-fit and available Foden at his disposal when Manchester City’s players reconvene ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States later in June.