Phil Foden opens up on ‘off the pitch’ problems and recent ankle injury | OneFootball

Phil Foden has opened up on what he has called a “frustrating season” with Manchester City – and revealed he has had problems off the pitch which have contributed to that.

Foden won the the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, the Premier League Player of the Season, and the FWA Footballer of the Year for the 2023/24 season as City lifted the Premier League title.

But he has struggled to replicate that form this season as City failed to defend their Premier League crown.

“It’s been a frustrating season for me,” Foden said.

“I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch, mentally. It’s one of them. Sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football. This season I’ve struggled a little bit.

“Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, get back to where I left (off) the season before, because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.

“I know if everything was okay, I’d definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on.”

The 24-year-old also says he suffered a bad ankle injury last month, and insists he would benefit from a short break, despite City playing in the Club World Cup this summer and England also having international fixtures.

“I picked up an ankle injury against (Manchester) United and it’s taken time to heal,” he continued.

“It was a bad ligament damage to the ankle. It took a while to heal, before I can push myself in training. I had to look after it.

“It’s a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner. It’s something we have to speak with the club and national team to see, maybe, if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100 per cent back to how I want it.

“I just need a few weeks off it without playing football and obviously I can’t get it at the moment. It’s a bit frustrating to play with niggles like this. It’s getting better and stronger each day.”