Pep: I know what Foden is capable of | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says he is no doubt that Phil Foden will relish the challenge of rediscovering the elite form that has proved so vital to City over the past several seasons.

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Despite still only being 25, the Stockport-born Academy graduate has already helped City amass 18 major pieces of silverware and proved one of the cornerstones of Guardiola’s supremely talented squad.

Foden has also been the recipient of several notable individual accolades, including being voted the PFA, Premier League and Football Writers’ Player of the Year in 2024.

However, his game time has been largely restricted over the past couple of months with Foden only featuring as a late substitute in last month’s Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal.

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But addressing the media at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool, Guardiola said he was in no doubt Foden would respond in the right way to that challenge.

“Until November, along with Erling Haaland he was a massively important player,” the City boss pointed out.

“Erling and Phil were the only ones making goals and assists, it’s not a century ago.

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“He’s not 33 with incredible experience; he’s 25 and still he is growing and developing as a football player.

“Always we want things in a hurry.  In friendly games with national teams, they lose and it’s a disaster.

“You go to pre-season and lose, and they talk as if a manager must be sacked. Today world football is like that.

“He is the same player and sometimes he has to realise ‘Now I have to come up and be stronger.’ It depends on him.

“Realise as quick as possible ‘OK I have to do better.’ Go to the simplicity and he will come back because the talent is there.

“He did it five, six years in a row. In 2024 he was the best player in England in the four in a row season.

“We could not have won without him and sometimes you can drop a little bit and he is aware of that but OK take it like a challenge as its normal.

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“I know Phil perfectly and what he’s capable of.

“Sometimes players have to challenge with their mates and sometimes in that moment they are better.

“Rayan Cherki has been amazing, and he has to challenge with him.

“Take it as a challenge. I am not where I was, I am what I am, here I am… he has proven it because of how many titles have we won.

“It happens and I have to challenge with my mates.”

City will resume action after the March international break seeking to extend a record run by reaching what would be an eighth successive FA Cup semi-final.

Under Guardiola, City have established a remarkable record in the famous competition, winning the trophy twice and being losing finalists for the past two seasons.

And as he looked ahead to the Liverpool game, the Catalan revealed how much the FA Cup meant to him and how proud he was of City’s amazing recent record.

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“I don’t need to finish [my career] to know how proud I am. It’s unbelievable,” Guardiola declared.

“I know in English football no club has reached seven semi-finals in a row as well as four Carabao Cups in a row, four Premier Leagues in a row. I am so proud.

“I don’t need to finish and go to Maldives under the coconut tree to know how incredible it is.

“We try since I arrive to make in every game, the culture that we have to win.

“Every single game in every competition is important. That is what defines the club.

“Tomorrow, we have the chance to reach eight semi-finals in a row. Not even teams in Italy, Spain or Germany can do that.

“Always we are there. That is most important thing.”