Sport
Erling Haaland, for just the fourth time this season, didn’t score in a Premier League match on Saturday. The Norwegian star was unusually quiet against Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium, managing only one shot on target. Fortunately for Manchester City, Phil Foden rose to the occasion.
Foden has been stepping up more this season. After a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, the 25-year-old has recently returned to his best, with the 3-2 victory over Leeds showcasing arguably his top performance of the season. Foden finally resembles his former self.
Manchester City is undergoing a transitional phase. They have invested nearly £400m over the last two transfer windows, acquiring players such as Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and others. The club needed a rebuild, and this process is ongoing.
Recent losses to Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen highlighted that Manchester City still struggles to compete for trophies on multiple fronts. Pep Guardiola doesn’t have the squad depth of some top Premier League rivals, indicating City’s need for further reinforcements.
However, Guardiola can build around Foden. The 25-year-old is perhaps the most technically skilled English player of his generation, a fact evident for years. Foden is the greatest player to have emerged from Manchester City’s youth system, validating their club process.
City’s recent transition might have sidelined Foden, but Guardiola has utilized the Englishman as a number 10 behind Haaland. National team manager Thomas Tuchel has publicly mentioned this position as Foden’s future for both club and country.
“I agree with Thomas,” said Guardiola. “I favor placing Phil behind the striker, close to goal, because a player with his scoring instinct should be near the net. He can sometimes play wide with others more central, but I prefer Phil centrally. Our sense of goal is lacking, so positioning him close to Erling is crucial. Big teams score with many players; if only Erling scores, we’ll struggle.”
City needs more than Haaland for offensive strength, and Foden has proven capable of contributing. The 25-year-old has scored six goals and provided three assists in all competitions this season, posting impressive stats.
Jeremy Doku also appears to have improved this season. The Belgian is making better decisions in the attack and delivering a more consistent end product near the opponent’s penalty area. Yet, Foden remains the more accomplished player, personifying Guardiola’s Manchester City.
This season may be too soon for City to truly vie for the Premier League title. Arsenal leads the table, and catching them seems increasingly unlikely. Manchester City currently lacks the consistency for a sustained challenge.
Defensively, Guardiola needs additional assurance, and his midfield lacks the dynamism once there with Kevin De Bruyne. However, on their current path, City will soon be back in title contention, and Foden’s return to form will accelerate that process.
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