‘I don’t give presents’ – Pep Guardiola reveals Phil Foden’s position for Manchester City when he returns | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has detailed where he intends to play Phil Foden in his Manchester City side this season upon the Englishman’s return to action for the club.

The 24-year-old is yet to reappear for Pep Guardiola’s side this season having featured briefly during the opening Premier League contest of the season against Chelsea, with last season’s PFA Player of the Year struck by illness.

Foden took the decision to withdraw from England interim head coach Lee Carsley’s selection during the opening international break of the new season in order to complete his recovery from the problem, and returned to matchday duties with his club over the weekend.

However, Pep Guardiola revealed after the 2-1 win over Brentford that Foden was still lacking in the number of training sessions undertaken, whilst he was also not suitable for the contest with Thomas Frank’s side given the state of play in the game at the time.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Inter Milan to the Etihad Stadium this week, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on where he sees Phil Foden slotting back into his side, amid conversations over a return to the wider roles.

“Yeah, we have (Ilkay) Gundo now back, and have other players, but yeah his better position is there,” Guardiola said of Foden. “But when everyone is fit the contention is tough, and they have to compete for themselves to perform well.”

The Manchester City manager continued on the subject of rotating his line-up among the options he has at his disposal, “I want to rotate, but they have to prove when I rotate that they are ready to play.

“When they don’t perform well, I’m going to rotate less. Because the business here is winning the next game, not because I give presents for this player or the other one.

“I want everybody involved because it’s the best way to avoid injuries, to be fresh mentally and physically, but they have to perform.”

Foden will undoubtedly play a major part in Manchester City’s season with fixtures intensifying as the months roll by, as Arsenal make the trip to the Etihad Stadium this weekend and a Carabao Cup home tie against Watford looms just 49 hours later.

Pep Guardiola will call upon his entire roster of options for the games that lie ahead, with Manchester City often expected to play twice a week for the duration of the autumn and winter months in particular.