Phil Foden Attributes Difficult Season To Off-Field Issues And Ankle Injury Challenges

Add as a preferred source on Google

Phil Foden attributes his challenging season at Manchester City to off-field issues and an ankle injury. The England player was instrumental in City's fourth consecutive Premier League title win last season, scoring 26 goals across all competitions. However, this season he has only managed to score 10 times. Foden has also not scored in his last 19 matches for both club and country since January.

Foden's troubles began with a ligament injury against Manchester United in April. He felt he returned too soon, saying, "I've had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally... sometimes, there's things in life that are bigger than football." He hopes to regain his form next year, acknowledging his potential and quality.

The 24-year-old expressed frustration over his slow recovery process. "My ankle took a while to heal before I could push myself back in training," he explained. Foden believes that if everything were fine, his performance would improve significantly. Despite the setbacks, he remains focused on getting back to his best.

Manchester City concludes their Premier League campaign against Fulham on Sunday. They need a point to secure Champions League qualification. Following this, Pep Guardiola's team will participate in the expanded Club World Cup starting June 14 in the United States.

England faces Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on June 7 and hosts Senegal three days later. Foden is contemplating skipping these matches to rest his ankle. "It's something we have to speak with the club and national team," he said about possibly resting to fully recover.

The upcoming international fixtures present a dilemma for Foden as they coincide with his recovery period. He acknowledges the mental exhaustion players face after a long season and stresses the importance of proper rest before the next one begins.

The Club World Cup is another significant event on City's calendar. While some clubs may not prioritize it, Foden believes City will approach it seriously given their competitive nature.

Foden remains optimistic about returning to top form despite this season's difficulties. He is determined to overcome these challenges and perform at the level he knows he can achieve.