Phil Foden labelled “baby boy” by Pep Guardiola is message of support to Manchester City star | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued clear words of support to Phil Foden and vows to help the Englishman get back to his remarkable best for the club.

Last season’s Premier League Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year has been unable to follow up those successes with any performances of real note this season, and has struggled to maintain his place in Pep Guardiola’s line-ups.

The drop-off in performance and quality of Phil Foden has been one of a number of reasons as to why Manchester City have been unable to compete for any of this season’s major honours, and ultimately fell short at the final hurdle in the FA Cup.

This week, the City Academy graduate spoke honestly to reporters about his season, crediting a mental struggle as well as reoccurring fitness problems as to why he is fallen well below his usually exceptional standards.

“It’s been a frustrating season for me. I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. It’s one of them, sometimes there’s things in life bigger than football. This season I’ve struggled a little,” Foden said after Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

“Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before because I know what I’m capable of and the quality I have. I know if everything was okay I’d definitely be better on the field,” he added.

“Sometimes things happen, you have to deal with it and move on. Unfortunately I’ve had a difficult season. Now it’s just about improving, getting back to my best. I know my standards and what I can reach. I’m looking forward to getting back.”

Now, speaking to the media on Friday afternoon ahead of City’s final game of the season, manager Pep Guardiola was asked on the recent comments issued by Foden regarding a difficult campaign on a personal note.

“Yeah, it’s true, Phil said that,” Guardiola confirmed when the subject of the midfielder’s request for a break this summer was brought to his attention. “And of course he has not been [at his best]… But not just him, for all of us.”

The Manchester City manager continued, “But you know, his family for him is [very important]… He’s a baby, baby, baby boy, from the Academy, became one of the stars with us and all I want, we want is to help him. That is the most important thing.

“He needs rest and it’s going to happen now after Sunday, and step by step he’s going to come back. It’s what we want, I just want to, want to, want to help him. That is just what we want for him.

“I don’t care about his performance on the pitch, I want him to feel good, feel good and after the rest will come in an easy way.”

Phil Foden’s first opportunity for extended rest has been handed to him by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who excluded the City star from his latest national team camp to join up between the short break from the end of the Premier League season and Club World Cup.

It remains to be seen whether Manchester City will follow a similar direction with Foden, or whether they will see the tournament in the United States as the fresh start that the versatile creator requires in order to prepare sufficiently for a new season.