Heading into the 2025/2026 season, not many players in the Premier League have more pressure to perform than Phil Foden.
Having raised the bar after winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Season award last year, the Manchester City midfielder went on to have a campaign to forget — with just seven goals and two assists to his name in the league.
Even putting his goal contributions aside, Phil Foden looked like a shadow of the player who led City to their fourth consecutive title in the 2023/2024 season as he drifted in and out of games, barely took any risks on the ball and seemed unsure of himself.
James McAtee has raved about Foden’s natural talent and for most of his time as a first-team player for his boyhood club, the Stockport-born attacker has delivered.
Pep Guardiola predicted Foden to bounce back, something he will certainly have to as Manchester City intend to reclaim their status as top dogs next season.
Rodri could regret his prediction about Phil Foden becoming England’s greatest player
One man who will be hoping that his teammate bounces back is Rodri, who hailed Foden by claiming that he could go down as England’s greatest-ever player in August last year: “For me, he has the ability and he’s able to be the best English player in my opinion when he finishes his career.”
Rodri added: “Of course, he needs to keep developing his game, already he’s one of the best players in the league, in Europe. But I think he could get even better and better. I think the quality he has and the ambition, the hard work he does every day and the way he tries to understand and listen to the old people for me and for the team and for him.”
However, if Foden has another disappointing season, the Spaniard’s claim could age poorly as while even top players like Eden Hazard have underwhelmed after winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 2016, they went on to operate at consistently world-class standards for years to come.
At 25 years of age, the England international is no longer a young player and much like the likes of Rodri and Erling Haaland, he will be expected to step up to the plate for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Considering Rodri claimed Foden could become England’s best-ever player, stalwarts who are in the conversation for being their country’s standout performer such as Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard were the epitome of consistency.
While the treble-winner has a long career in front of him, Rayan Cherki aims to win the Ballon d’Or and if the Frenchman takes the Premier League by storm and another number 10 in Oscar Bobb plays his best football next season, the City poster-boy could become a mere bit-part player if he underwhelms.
Phil Foden has already sent a message to his doubters
However, the good news for Rodri and his Manchester City teammates is that Foden admitted he wants to “prove people wrong” by redeeming himself.
“The hunger inside me is back and I want to prove people wrong. It was a difficult season, I’m not going to lie. It was not the best. I got a little bit of time off, rested.”
“Yeah, new start, new me. I’m just looking forward to the season. I’m happy to get back in with the goals, obviously creating chances as well.”
If Foden returns to his best, Manchester City have a world-class performer on their hands and England could be looking at a star who is certainly capable of going down as one of the finest players in their history.
