Foden’s Resurgence and City’s Upcoming Challenge Against Liverpool

Following a disappointing 2024-25 season marked by physical and mental challenges, Phil Foden has returned to form and regained his confidence with consistent performances this season. The English winger has already netted four goals and provided three assists across all competitions. Moreover, he has made a notable comeback to the England national team.

At 25 years old, Foden had not appeared for the Three Lions since March but was recently recalled by manager Thomas Tuchel, alongside Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.

After delivering a standout performance against Dortmund in the Champions League, Foden expressed his enjoyment of the game to TNT Sports, stating: “I’m loving it. I just need to play with a smile on my face, which I’m doing. Last year was tough, not just for myself, but for everyone. There is a new togetherness this season, and you can tell. Today, Dortmund caused us some problems; they are a great team, but we stuck to the plan and broke them down with our talent up front. You learn a lot from tough patches. We have great captains in our team who discuss how we can get back on track. We’ve also added fantastic players to the squad, which has brought real hunger and unity. It was just about trying to be the team we used to be, and this season we are seeing glimpses of that.”

In addressing Adeyemi’s struggles this season, Kovac used Foden as an inspiring example, stating, “I’d like to keep it general: City’s passing quality was better than ours. With Phil Foden’s goals, you could see how smoothly he controlled the ball and finished. Karim had a few chances, but he didn’t quite make it. He lacked precision and accuracy. But that’s something we’re working on. We need to find the net; then the chances are higher. I’m pleased that he even created the opportunity.”

He continued, “Karim has his own approach. We’re working hard, but with so many games, we can’t train as often as we would like. Sometimes, shots go in that shouldn’t, and vice versa. Against City, we conceded three goals from the edge of the penalty area. Karim is 23 years old; he has significant potential and needs to refine a few areas. But we are addressing that.”

Kovac also praised Pep Guardiola’s team, acknowledging their world-class status: “We’re undeniably a strong team in the Bundesliga and have reached the Champions League quarter-finals. However, we must recognize that this is a world-class team. We’re not yet at that level, which isn’t a negative. We must be honest with ourselves and aspire to that standard. To achieve this, we must improve and work diligently every day.”

He added, “We didn’t create the opportunities we had hoped for and were too passive, conceding three goals from outside the penalty area. It was a deserved defeat. You could see the difference; City’s passing was much cleaner than ours. Against teams like this, we must defend better.”

After their impressive victory over the German side, Guardiola’s team will now shift focus to the Premier League, facing reigning champions Liverpool at home on Sunday. Currently trailing league leaders Arsenal by six points, City must secure a win at Etihad Stadium to narrow the gap with the Gunners while also extending their lead over the Reds.