One player could hold the keys to next season for Manchester City if he gets back to his best | OneFootball

One player who had a testing and difficult 24/25 season for Manchester City was Phil Foden. Try as he might, Foden couldn’t recapture his best form throughout a difficult season for his team. But during Manchester City’s brief FIFA Club World Cup campaign there were signs that Foden could be about to return to his best form next season. If Foden can rediscover his best he could hold the keys to Pep Guardiola’s side having a successful 25/26 season.

Phil Foden has the potential to be one of the most important players for Manchester City.

When looking at Pep Guardiola’s squad for next season, there are a host of players who loom as key players. Rodri is obviously one. If he can return to something close to his Ballon d’Or-winning form, Manchester City will be a stronger side. Erling Haaland is another. If Haaland grows as a player he will be a vital weapon to City’s play. Phil Foden has the potential to be just as an important player for Pep Guardiola’s side.

At his best, Phil Foden is one of the best players in the Premier League. His dominant 23/24 season is a testament to this fact. Foden won the PFA Players’ Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Season and the Premier League Player of the Season awards. Those awards were a fine reward for Foden’s efforts during the 23/24 season. They were also a testament to Foden’s importance to Pep Guardiola’s side. If Foden can reach that level next season it will aid Manchester City’s bid to return to the top of English football.

If Phil Foden returns to his best, then he can help fill the void left by Kevin De Bruyne’s departure.

There is a sizable void in the Manchester City squad entering next season. Kevin De Bruyne’s departure means that there is a creative void in Pep Guardiola’s squad. De Bruyne wasn’t at his best last season, but he was still an important player for City. With De Bruyne having now left for Napoli there is a creative void in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Players such as Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Oscar Bobb, Savinho, Tijjani Reijnders, and Omar Marmoush have the potential to fill that void.

But Phil Foden looms as a vital player to fill the void left by De Bruyne’s departure. At his best Foden is one of the best goal-scoring midfielders in the game. He already scored 100 goals in 319 appearances for Manchester City. That’s an element that was lacking in Manchester City’s play last season. If Foden rediscovers his goal-scoring touch, then the equation changes for Pep Guardiola’s side. Whether those goals come from Foden playing in midfield or from him drifting centrally off the right wing, they will be invaluable to Pep Guardiola’s side next season. The same can be said of Foden’s energy and creativity return to the level he is capable of.

Heading into the 25/26 season Phil Foden looms as one of Manchester City’s most important players. If he can put a disappointing 24/25 campaign behind and return to the form he is capable of he could unlock Manchester City’s bid to return to the top of English football. That is how important Foden is to Manchester City’s prospects and it will be fascinating to see if Foden can play at the level he is capable of next season.