Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca believes Phil Foden has the talent to return to his best level and establish himself as a regular England player, but says the midfielder must maintain a stable mindset and turn his strong training performances into consistent displays in matches.
Foden is preparing for what could be the most important season of his career when Manchester City begin their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The 26-year-old has endured a difficult period since being named PFA Player of the Year in 2024. He has spoken openly about his mental health and admits his performances over the past two seasons have fallen below expectations, despite a brief improvement before Christmas last year.
Foden says he now “feels much better” and that his thinking is clearer. He wants to secure a regular place in the Manchester City team rather than being rotated frequently, although Maresca’s recent tactical plans suggest he will compete directly with Rayan Cherki for a role.
Maresca, who was appointed after Pep Guardiola’s decade-long spell working with Foden, is convinced the academy graduate can recover his confidence.
“You can tell he’s sharp and performing well,” said Maresca. “From day one, his form has been very, very good. People inside the club told me that, compared to last year or the past two years, his mentality and performance in training are like two different people, which is exactly what we want.”
Foden missed out on international tournaments after he was not selected for the World Cup squad. His absence meant he should have had a full rest during the off-season, and after Thomas Tuchel announced the England squad, Maresca immediately called him to offer his sympathy.
Instead, Foden spent part of his break watching Formula 1 at Silverstone and tennis at Wimbledon, while also making several trips around central England to go fishing. He completed additional training overseas with his personal trainer, Jamie Reynolds, and worked in the artificial-turf cage built in his garden.
On Thursday, after Manchester City gave the whole squad a day off, Foden travelled to Tywyn on the North Wales coast. The seaside town, situated between Abergele and Rhyl and about an hour’s drive from Foden’s home, is known for its family amusement park and challenging rides.
At Knightly’s Fun Park, Foden won a soft toy from a claw machine that appeared “impossible to catch”. He took it back to a holiday home rented about half a mile away and gave it to his surprised children.
Foden was delighted by the victory, but now faces the more demanding task of taking control of his football career.
He briefly returned to something close to his peak form last season before suffering another dip. In January, on the night Manchester City lost away to Bodø/Glimt, he argued with Guardiola in the dressing room. The incident was not included in Amazon Prime Video’s new documentary.
People close to the club have described the relationship between Guardiola and Foden as similar to that of a father and son. After 10 years together, a change may benefit both men, although Maresca now has the responsibility of unlocking Foden’s potential.
When Manchester City began their Asian pre-season tour with a young squad, before Ruben Dias returned from his World Cup holiday, Maresca handed Foden the captain’s armband.
“I’ve been at the club for so long, and I’m one of the most senior players, so this season I have to be one of the leaders, a captain candidate,” said Foden. “I look forward to taking on new responsibilities and striving to show leadership.”
Maresca will decide on a four-man captaincy group after a turbulent transfer window. He wants an English player developed in the country to be included, with Marc Guehi an obvious candidate.
For now, Foden’s priority is to make a greater impact during matches. Manchester City’s coaching staff are pleased with his concentration in training and his willingness to learn new tactical instructions, but they want him to reproduce that level in competitive fixtures.
Thomas Tuchel said in March that Foden’s attitude in training had never been an issue and that his work had consistently impressed the England coaching staff. However, Tuchel also noted that Foden struggled to show the same “vitality and drive” once he put on his match kit.
Manchester City have encountered a similar problem and are using all available resources to help rebuild his confidence. Maresca said Foden played well in last Sunday’s Community Shield, but only seconds into the match he lost an important challenge to Myles Lewis-Skelly, which indirectly contributed to Arsenal’s opening goal.
The club expects more from him, although Foden is said to have regained his smile and is determined to improve and recover the level Guardiola helped him reach.
Long-term targets could provide further motivation. Foden is 310 appearances short of Alan Oakes’ Manchester City record of 680, which has stood unchallenged for half a century. At 26, he is entering the prime of his career and could yet approach or surpass the landmark.
He can also challenge the club’s all-time scoring records and has Kevin De Bruyne’s total of 176 assists in his sights. Foden currently has 68 assists.
Those ambitions help explain why Manchester City renewed his contract. The club firmly believes the best version of Foden can return.
His attachment to the club and his roots was underlined when the Stockport-born midfielder travelled back to Edgeley High Street to meet members of his extended family within hours of Manchester City returning from Korea, despite the journey taking almost an hour from his Cheshire mansion.
“Phil came through our academy; he’s a true Man City man,” said Maresca. “Everyone is happy to see him getting better and better.”
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