At the pre-match press conference, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola addressed the issue of Phil Foden's recent sharp decline in playing time.

Although the 25-year-old midfield maestro has mostly come off the bench in recent months, Guardiola has full confidence in his protégé, believing that he can meet the current challenges with a positive attitude and rediscover his former elite form.

As a source of pride for Manchester City's youth academy, Foden has won 18 major trophies with the team and in 2024 swept the PFA, Premier League Official, and FWA Player of the Year awards.

Regarding Foden's recent slump, Guardiola bluntly stated that the outside world is too harsh and impatient with young players: "He is not a 33-year-old veteran with a wealth of experience; he is only 25 years old and is still growing and developing. The world of football today always lacks patience; losing a game is like facing the end of the world."

“He needs to realize as soon as possible, ‘Now I have to step up and become stronger.’ Sometimes a player’s form does dip, that’s normal. He needs to treat it as a challenge, go back to the simple essence of football, and if he does that, with his talent, he will definitely be able to return to his peak.”

At the end of the interview, Guardiola reiterated Foden's indispensability to Manchester City's tactical system. He emphasized that before last November, Foden, like Haaland, was the team's absolute core engine, and without him, Manchester City would not have been able to achieve the feat of winning four consecutive Premier League titles.

“I know Phil’s abilities very well. He has maintained a very high level for five or six years in a row, and he knows his current situation. By accepting the challenges from his teammates and working hard for them, he will eventually prove himself again,” Guardiola added.

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