'We need him': Pep Guardiola shares honest verdict on if Phil Foden will soon return to his best for Man City
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Phil Foden was the best player in the Premier League by some distance last season, yet the Manchester City star is taking some time to get going this time around.
The England superstar has managed just one start in all competitions with Foden yet to score or assist for the reigning Premier League champions this season, with the 24-year-old struggling with fitness issues and fatigue from last campaign.
With Jack Grealish regaining his confidence and summer signing Savinho flourishing at the Etihad Stadium, though, Foden’s absence hasn’t been a huge loss for City so far, with the academy graduate impressing on the weekend from the bench against Newcastle United.
And Pep Guardiola has now shared if he thinks Foden will soon return to his best.
Guardiola confident Foden will be back to his best soon for Manchester City
Speaking to the press ahead of tonight’s UEFA Champions League tie away to Slovan Bratislava, the Catalan manager shared his confidence that Foden will be back to his best, with Guardiola suggesting that City’s star man could be in the starting XI in Slovakia tonight.
Guardiola said: “Maybe I can have some doubts in many things, but Phil Foden is going to be back! As much as he feels good, he will be back. I think in 30 minutes at St James’ Park, I already felt something that I like that I didn’t see for example against Watford.
“Don’t forget after the Euros he didn’t have any training for two months, he had problems with some niggles and some problems in his health. But now he is smiling and he’s in his rhythm.
“He was the best player in the Premier League last season so we need him, he was important for us, but I have no doubts with his love for football and his training and passion, he will be back.”
Foden will soon be back at his brilliant best in the coming weeks
Given how much football Foden played last season, it’s no real surprise why the City superstar has taken some time to get going this campaign, with the attacking midfielder hardly getting a break this summer.
Yet with Guardiola backing Foden to return to his best and the 24-year-old looking electric at times on the weekend at St. James’ Park, there’s a real chance that the City talisman will soon be back to his best.
Indeed, Foden has played more football than most over the past 12 months, yet once fully recovered, City could become unstoppable again if their star player can regain the form that made him such a menace last season at the Premier League.
