Guardiola: Foden has to keep improving | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says FWA Footballer of the Year Phil Foden has to keep getting better.

The 23-year-old was announced as this year’s winner of the prestigious accolade on Friday morning having enjoyed a sensational season for Guardiola’s side.

Foden has scored a career-high 24 goals and accumulated 10 assists across all competitions as City chase a record fourth straight Premier League title and another FA Cup triumph.

The attacking midfielder missed last weekend’s win at Nottingham Forest through illness but is again available for selection when Wolves visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

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Our boss praised Foden for the steps he has taken this term but called on his player to keep striving for more.

“He has done really good, I said many times, his impact in the final third is good,” said Guardiola in Friday’s pre-match press conference.

“Every year the amount of games and minutes he is playing, he is more mature. He understands the game. But he has to continue because he is still young.

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“Depends on him, simple as that. I promise you. It depends on him. Mentality, want more, do it again, do it again, be better in this department, I will live 24 hours for my game and for my profession. It depends on him. Like all the players.”

Foden’s entire senior career has come under the tutelage of Guardiola, with the Academy graduate making his debut back in 2017.

Since then, his impact on Guardiola’s title-chasing side has grown year on year and he has now amassed more than 250 appearances in blue.

While Guardiola accepts his guidance has played a pivotal role in Foden’s development, the Catalan insists the No.47’s patience and work ethic is the key reason he has grown into the player he is today.

“He was 17, 18 years old,” said Guardiola, reflecting on Foden’s first steps into the team.

“David Silva was here, Kevin De Bruyne was here, Gundogan was here. So he is playing in a team that has won a lot of Premier Leagues and final stages in all competitions.

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“It was so demanding, thank you for giving me credit but the work ethic and mentality - we as managers can suggest something but it belongs to them.

“Look at Cole Palmer. What a development. I didn't give him the minutes. The talent is there. It belongs absolutely to the players and what they do every single game.”

City v Wolves app coverage

The Official Man City App allows you to follow all of the action at the Etihad all in one place.

Minute-by-minute text updates of the game will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, shortly followed by our Matchday Live show which will begin around 16:30 (UK) – as the team news comes in.

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The show will welcome special guests Keith Curle, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joleon Lescott into the studio alongside host Cel Spellman.

The trio will provide City-centric insight before, during and after our penultimate home game of the 2023/24 season as well as answering viewer questions throughout the broadcast. With audience participation actively encouraged, get in touch via Whatsapp: +447537186538.

During the game you can listen to blow-by-blow live audio commentary from Alistair Mann and Michael Brown while our text commentary continues.

For those who have push notifications turned on, you can be alerted to the key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and team news.

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Short highlights of the match will be available from 21:15 with extended highlights and a CITY+ full-match replay accessible from midnight.