'He's the best BY FAR!' - Pep Guardiola impressed by Phil Foden's resurgence despite being left out of England squad again

Foden has started the 2025-26 season with a bang, regaining confidence and showing the sort of form which earned him the Premier League Player of the Year award at the end of the 2023-24 season. City are unbeaten in their previous six games, with Foden starting in all six. Not just that, but he has already produced four direct goal contributions in seven games, a drastic improvement from the last 18 league outings of the last season, where he recorded a solitary goal involvement.  

A Sky Sports reporter asked Guardiola, "When Phil's playing at the standard he is now, how much more does he give this unit as a team?" 

"A lot," said Guardiola in response, before praising Foden and explaining what makes him such a threat. "He’s one of the best players we have in small spaces in the final third, by far,” the City coach claimed. “In terms of assists and in terms of goals in small spaces, how he times an attack and the desire to score a goal is the best we have.”  

"He plays a little bit free and close to the box, he can do something that is unique," said the former Barcelona manager last week. Indeed, the City starboy is thriving in his new-look No.10 role, but his exploits have been overlooked by England boss Tuchel. In a squad that is bereft of the other No.10s, such as Jude Bellingham and the injured Cole Palmer, Foden must have felt heartbreaking to not have received the call-up. He hasn't played a game for England since March.    

City recorded their worst-ever start to a season in two decades, but their fortunes have turned around without any surprises. Foden has been a key player in helping City wake up from their early slumber, and Guardiola will hope for more exploits from his star man on Sunday against Brentford.