As Manchester City went down to Tottenham 4-nil on Saturday you could see that all areas of City’s game have broken down. Their defence and midfield wilted in the face of Spurs pressure. Up front City created chances but failed to convert them. A lot of City’s goal-scoring burden falls on Erling Haaland. But he can’t carry it all on his own. With that in mind, the form of Phil Foden has become a major concern so far this season. Manchester City needs Foden to lift for a host of reasons, and preferably sooner rather than later.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why Foden’s form has dropped off so dramatically this season. He came into this season off the back of a dominant 23/24 campaign. But a busy summer with England and illness and niggling injuries have hit Foden to start this season. But when he has been on the pitch he hasn’t carried the same threat as he usually does. At his best, he is one of the most destructive and creative players in the Premier League. But so far this season that has barely been sighted.
Foden isn’t converting his chances as he normally would. That is a problem affecting not only Foden but the majority of the Manchester City squad. Erling Haaland is suffering from a similar issue. But if Haaland doesn’t fire, City needs Foden to. Outside of Haaland, he is City’s biggest goal threat. But as we saw against Tottenham and in other games this season Foden is getting the chances he just isn’t converting. He does look like he has lost his confidence like the rest of his teammates at the moment. Perhaps a goal will snap Foden back into form. That is the hope anyway.
Speaking after City’s crushing defeat Pep Guardiola was asked if Manchester City carry enough of a goal threat outside of Erling Haaland. The City manager acknowledged that Foden and Josko Gvardiol had their chances against Ange Postecoglou’s side, but they failed to take them. He told the media: “Yeah, he’s the main target, but Phil (Foden) had two or three clear chances, and Josko (Gvardiol) had one or two clear chances. So I don’t know, I have to review the game, but the fact that the way we played in different shapes in the first and second half, the way with the ball we were playing was good.”
When Phil Foden is at his best he takes the chances he squandered against Tottenham and in City’s other games. City’s losses to Brighton and Bournemouth also saw Foden miss late chances to equalise. Manchester City needs Foden to quickly find his best form. When he is in form, he can ease the burden on Erling Haaland, and City are a better team.
The hope is Foden can return to his best as soon as possible. That’s the same hope for a host of teammates. But City need Foden as soon as possible. Their upcoming games against Feyenoord and Liverpool would be the ideal time for Foden to rediscover his best. Manchester City need him now more than ever. He is too important to Pep Guardiola’s side to continue on the manner that he is currently.
