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How ‘incredible’ Foden shone for Man City against Dortmund
Phil Foden delivered a compelling reminder of his exceptional talent during Manchester City’s clash with Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad.
Following a subdued campaign last term, which saw Manchester City without a major trophy for the first time in eight years and Foden contending with off-field challenges and injury, the midfielder appears to be regaining his stride.
His recent performances have garnered praise from his manager, fans, and pundits alike, signaling a potential return to peak form.
With impressive displays, four goals, and three assists in 13 games, the 25-year-old will be closely monitoring Friday’s England squad announcement for the World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania on November 13 and 16.
Foden’s standout performance in Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund—momentarily eclipsing Erling Haaland’s usual dominance—will undoubtedly bolster his chances of a recall to the national team.
“I’m loving it,” Foden told TNT Sports. “I just need to play with a smile on my face, which I’m doing. Last year was tough, not just for myself but for everyone.
“There is a new togetherness this season and you can tell. Dortmund caused us some problems, they are a great team, but we stuck to the plan and broke them down with our talent up front.”
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Foden nets twice to help Man City thrash Dortmund
While Erling Haaland’s prolific scoring record this season—27 goals for club and country—has dominated headlines, Foden remains a pivotal component of that potent attacking force.
Having been omitted from the previous two England squads, and unavailable for selection prior to that, he faces a challenge to regain favor with manager Thomas Tuchel.
Jude Bellingham—also vying for a return following a shoulder injury—and Morgan Rogers are potential rivals for the number 10 role, the position where Pep Guardiola believes Foden thrives most.
For City, he has emerged from the shadow of Kevin de Bruyne, who departed the club in the summer as a legend, while injuries to Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki at the start of this campaign allowed him to make the spot his own.
After a stuttering start, Guardiola’s side has suffered only one defeat in their last 13 matches across all competitions, with Foden featuring in 12 of those games, having shown a willingness to play—”a sign he is ready,” according to his manager.
When questioned about Foden’s potential England recall—especially with the upcoming World Cup—Guardiola stated: “Thomas is so smart and wise and knows exactly what the national team needs – and I think Thomas knows Phil perfectly.
“There is no person in this country, no-one around the world, that doesn’t know his quality and ability, but England are so lucky to have an amount of good players in this position, there are a lot.
“That is why Phil has to push himself to be better and better, because when he is going to be called up, [he will] say, ‘OK, I’m going to show how good I am’.”
The sight of Foden in full flow, creating and scoring impressive goals like his brace against Dortmund, has delighted Guardiola and Manchester City supporters, who greatly admire their homegrown talent.
He has acknowledged his efforts to regain mental equilibrium following the challenges of the previous season.
During the 2023-24 campaign, Foden scored 27 goals in all competitions, including 19 in the Premier League, as City secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.
This earned him the Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year awards, alongside a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Foden also started all seven games as England reached the final of the European Championship in July 2024, where they were narrowly defeated by Spain 2-1.
However, further exclusion from Tuchel’s squad would raise concerns about his international future, potentially impacting his involvement in the prestigious tournament.
Former Manchester City and Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think we have got to look at Foden for England – the full Foden in form, who can be the difference.
“Someone who is mature, who wants it and cool in tight situations. I think he is now at the level to go back into the squad and to push for the manager. He will take on that challenge.
“He is like a big kid when it comes to football, he wants to play and have a ball at his feet. As a manager it was about supporting him and getting on to the pitch in the right position and he has now found it.
“He has to go into the England squad.”
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‘I like a lot of things I see’ – Guardiola
Foden experienced a slow start to the season due to an ankle injury, only playing 15 minutes before the September international break.
Despite concerns about further time on the sidelines, he scored in the 3-0 derby victory over Manchester United and provided an exquisite assist for Haaland’s goal in a Champions League match against Napoli, which marked De Bruyne’s return to the Etihad.
Foden then delivered a stellar performance in the Carabao Cup third-round win against League One side Huddersfield, but it was the dazzling display against Dortmund that has thrust him back into the spotlight.
His proficiency from outside the penalty area was once again apparent, having now scored 11 goals from such positions since the beginning of the 2023-24 season—more than any other Premier League player during the same period.
“I would say he is already there [back to his best form],” boss Guardiola told TNT Sports. “He does not need to get closer. He is already there. It is true we have missed goals and he got two incredible goals.
“How many times have we seen that from Phil, right? The generosity with the effort but also with the quality in the final third. We missed it a lot. I’m happy three more players scored goals – and not just Erling.”
Former Everton and England midfielder Leon Osman told MOTD: Uefa Champions League: “Dortmund allowed City to pass into the pocket of space in front of their defence all night, and Foden was the player who profited the most from it.
“In the first half, City rotated the player getting on the end of that pass quite well, and it was either Foden or [Tijjani] Reijnders getting forward and coming into those spaces, like Foden did for their first goal, or Haaland coming deep.
“It’s how City want to play, because you know where they want to get on the ball… and Dortmund let them do it. That could have been because City have got two wingers so high up, Dortmund were keeping five defenders back to deal with them and Haaland, and leaving space for Foden and Reijnders to arrive into.
“It was the same with Foden’s second goal. Again that was down to him finding space in the pocket again, just outside the area. None of the Dortmund players went in to challenge him.”
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