Man City Missing Another Piece? Foden, Last Season’s Premier League Best, Hasn’t Started in the League This Season Yet

For Foden, the start of the 2024/25 season has not been smooth. The English star, who was named “Player of the Year” by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) last season, is facing a challenge in his career.

Since the start of the new season, Foden has only managed to get 89 minutes of playing time in Premier League matches and hasn’t even had one chance to start, becoming a puzzle in the team’s lineup arrangements.

In the match against Newcastle on September 28th, with Rodri and De Bruyne absent, many thought this would be a good opportunity for Foden to prove himself. However, Guardiola chose Bernardo Silva, Grealish, and Gundogan as starters, and Foden only came on as a substitute in the 66th minute. This decision by the coach surprised many fans and sparked various discussions about Foden’s current situation.

According to the Daily Mail, Foden experienced a period of physical discomfort after winning the PFA award. Guardiola also mentioned that Foden’s form declined after the first game of the season against Chelsea. Even so, Foden maintained a positive attitude and high enthusiasm in training, which raised more questions about why he was left out of the starting lineup.

In last week’s 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal, Foden was only sent onto the field in the 70th minute and did not have many highlights in his performance. This situation contrasts sharply with his glorious achievements in the 2023/24 season. At that time, Foden played 62 games across all competitions, scoring 27 goals, including 19 in the Premier League.

Currently, Foden’s future at Manchester City is full of uncertainty. He is no longer as heavily relied upon as before, which is indeed regrettable. However, this also provides him with an opportunity to prove himself and overcome difficulties. Facing the current challenges, Foden needs to show his determination and ability to regain the trust of the coach and the support of the fans.