‘To be world class you have to win games; he’s winning games,” Pep Guardiola said of Phil Foden after he inspired the comeback to defeat Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in March. It was the local lad doing the damage against City’s most bitter rivals and he will be aiming to do it all again on Saturday to cap off his finest season.
A year ago Foden was readying himself for an identical FA Cup final but with one simple difference. On that occasion he had barely taken his seat on the bench when Ilkay Gündogan volleyed City into the lead after 12 seconds. The England international was eventually called upon to replace Kevin De Bruyne with 14 minutes remaining to see things through rather than be the main man.
This time, Foden, who will be 24 on 28 May, will be the centre of attention. The Premier League and Football Writers’ Association player of the year awards are nestled on his Stockport mantelpiece. Things had not gone too badly in Foden’s career before August but he has reached new levels, going from unquestionably talented to unquestionable.
When De Bruyne limped out of the victory over Burnley on the first day of the season, it was clear City would be without him for months and a talismanic replacement was required. Nineteen goals and eight assists from Foden later, City are Premier League champions once more. The statistics show he is at the heart of everything in one of the best teams in the world. With a victory needed against West Ham to make sure of the title on the last day of the season, it was Foden who scored twice to get the party in full swing, challenging Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr as the most adulated Mancunian inside the ground.
Everyone knew Foden was special, playing for the under‑14s when he was 10 and always the standout individual in the academy. It was inevitable he would play for the first team and his collection of young-player-of-the-year awards, in various guises, show he did not do a bad job in his first 23 years.
“Obviously, he’s made a step forward as a football player, in terms of minutes and being decisive in games,” Guardiola said of Foden. “Maybe before it was a glimpse of action but now it is consistent. That is the truth, but still there is a margin. Sometimes his game is overexcited – you have to be more calm. But this season has been so really important. He is moving forward but I have the feeling he can be better, and I have the feeling he can do it because he loves football. He enjoys being on the pitch. I have the feeling he doesn’t like having a day off.”
At the start of the season, Guardiola insisted Foden did not thoroughly understand the defensive demands of the No 10 role, which is why he had spent the majority of his career on the flanks. He learned a harsh but valuable lesson against Crystal Palace in December, giving the ball away and then giving away a penalty in his attempt to make amends. Since then he has flourished, fully understanding what is needed of him, thanks to that error.
He has ignited City in difficult matches. Where previously he had contributed to victories, Foden now instigates them. At Everton, with City a goal behind, he levelled on the way to a 3-1 win, and with the team trailing at Brentford he hit a hat-trick in a game that ended the same way. In that derby in March, Marcus Rashford had given United a lead they held on to for 48 minutes, before Foden showed his class: his first goal was a trademark strike into the top corner after gliding inside and his second came from a clever run and exchange with Julián Álvarez. It was appropriate that Foden scored twice against West Ham to secure the Premier League title.
One of the world’s most naturally gifted players of his generation, Foden does not rely on what he was born with, spending as much time on the training ground as possible, working to improve on every aspect. Although he looks slight, he is strong and quick, a dangerous combination to add to his speed of thought and foot.
Wembley will be the venue for Foden’s final act with City before England become the focus. At international level, he has four goals in 33 caps, an indication he is not being used to his potential. Gareth Southgate is more conservative than Guardiola, shackling Foden when he could be a matchwinner for his country, too. Foden and the nation will hope his club form will be enough to persuade Southgate to liberate him.
Foden has become world class and will be joining compatriots of similar ilk for the European Championship. If he can find the same understanding with Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham that he has with his City teammates, it could turn from a Phil Foden year being celebrated in the blue parts of Manchester to one for an entire nation to enjoy.
