Phil Foden has made it clear to Pep Guardiola what position he wants to play throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
The Englishman has looked back to his best in recent days after opening the scoring against Man United, before Foden dropped a masterclass against Napoli on Thursday night in the UEFA Champions League.
The midfielder looks back to his best after a tough 2024/25 campaign and seems to have been tasked with replacing Kevin De Bruyne at the Etihad Stadium, and after playing alongside the Belgian for many years, the 25-year-old knows what is required.
Speaking after Man City’s win over Napoli, Foden made it clear what position he wants to play going forward, which could be key to the success the Manchester club experiences over the coming months.
Phil Foden wants to play in the number 10 role
It has been clear for years that Foden’s best position is the number 10, which has always been a talking point around the Man City star, especially when he goes to play for England.
That is the role the midfielder wants to operate in throughout the 2025/26 season, and the Englishman has now made that clear following his impressive display against Napoli when he was asked if he had spoken to Guardiola about playing there by Jamie Carragher.
“I’ve not really spoken to him about it. I think I set up on the right at the start of the game, and he changed me and Bernardo around,” Foden told CBS Sports.
“Obviously, I’m happy to play wherever he puts me, but, you know, I think I’ve made it clear that I do prefer the 10, and that’s where I see myself playing. So, yeah, like I said, that’s where I want to be. So let’s see what happens. I’m playing there at the moment and loving my football.”
There is a lot of competition within Man City’s squad for that role, with Rayan Cherki also stating that he prefers to play in the 10, but for the benefit of the team, it may be best to keep the Englishman in that position.
Pep Guardiola admits Phil Foden needs to be loved
Many players need an arm around their shoulder to perform at their best, with David Moyes doing that for Jack Grealish at Everton being a perfect recent example.
After the Manchester derby, Jeremy Doku stated that Foden is vulnerable to criticism, and Guardiola also seemed to confirm this on Thursday night, stating that the 25-year-old needs to feel loved to perform at his best.
“We don’t put pressure. Everybody in our life, we need to be loved. But he is special. There are people that are more sensitive, there are people that are more you know,” the Man City boss said during his post-match press conference.
“He’s a guy who needs to feel embraced. You know him in all aspects, with mates, with me, with the club. When that happens, Phil responds like the player that he is.”
Whatever Guardiola is currently doing with Foden is working, and it is something City fans hope continues, as they will witness the same magic they did against Napoli if the midfielder can remain confident and happy.
