- PFA chief offers Phil Foden explanation
- Explains what has gone wrong for attacker
- Poor form has cost him place at World Cup
The chief executive of the PFA has given his verdict on why Phil Foden has struggled at Manchester City this season.
Foden’s performance against Crystal Palace earlier this month was outstanding. The 25-year-old registered two assists, one of which was a mindblowing backheeled pass.
However, moments like this have unfortunately been few and far between this season. Other than one good stint late last year, Foden has struggled at Man City.
This has ultimately seen him drop out of the first-team, and worse still, the playmaker will miss out on the World Cup this summer.
Phil Foden’s struggles are not his own fault
According to Maheta Molango, the PFA’s chief executive and Fifpro board member, Foden has found this season difficult because of Man City’s packed calendar.
The Citizens competed in four different competitions and with so many matches to play, Molango has ripped into those in charge of scheduling fixtures.
“The number of games that he’s been available for has dropped and, when he has been available, it has not been the version of Phil Foden we saw two years ago,” he told BBC Sport.
“Unfortunately, he is one of the victims of this crazy calendar that only makes sense for those pursuing commercial gain to the detriment of the quality of the spectacle and the protection of players, who should be football’s heritage.
“It’s a very sad state of affairs if someone like Phil is not on the pitch because we love players who make us dream and who have pure talent.”
Man City’s schedule was not Foden’s biggest issue
Some people claimed Foden might be dealing with problems in his personal life. While this is mere speculation, it does seem plausible.
After all, City’s busy calendar does not explain why the Englishman continued to struggle when he was not playing much.
Foden would come off the bench and still perform way below his usual standards, highlighting a more pressing concern.
Next season could provide Foden with a fresh start
On a more positive note, Foden has played well in his last few appearances, showing he has not lost any of his technical abilities.
And having missed out on England’s World Cup squad, Foden can use this as motivation to spur himself on this summer.
Next season will see a new manager take charge of Man City, and that gives him an opportunity to start afresh.
With a new contract in the works, Foden is here to stay for the long-term, and he will be looking to get back to his best next season.
