Phil Foden has said he has struggled for Manchester City this season due to off-field issues and an ankle injury.
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Foden faced off-field issues and injury
The midfielder had a stellar 2023–24 campaign, scoring 19 Premier League goals and earning multiple individual awards.
This season, however, he has managed just 10 goals across all competitions and has been in and out of Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup.
Foden revealed he suffered ankle ligament damage following a tackle from Manchester United’s Casemiro last April.
He also mentioned that there were “a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally.”
“It’s been difficult,” the 24-year-old told various outlets, including about his season. “I picked up an ankle injury against United and it took time to heal before I could push myself back in training.”
“A lot of people don’t know what football players have to go through and play with. I’ve had a lot of ankle pain and played with it in the last couple of months.”
“It’s been a frustrating season. I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. Sometimes there’s things in life bigger than football. This season I’ve struggled a little bit.
“Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.”
Foden will sit out for England, Club World Cup
Manchester City wrapped up their league season against Fulham on Sunday.
They are now aiming to secure a Champions League spot before kicking off their Club World Cup campaign on June 18.
With England set to face Andorra on June 7 and Senegal on June 10, Foden admitted it might be better for him to sit out those fixtures.
Thomas Tuchel is expected to announce his squad on Friday.
“It’s a difficult situation with the internationals right around the corner,” Foden said. “It’s something we have to speak about with the club and national team to see if it’s maybe better to rest and get my ankle fully 100% back.”
“I just need a few weeks off without playing football and I can’t get it at the moment. It’s a bit frustrating to play with niggles like this.”
Foden still hopes to feature in the revamped Club World Cup and insists that City will “take it seriously.”
“It’s obviously difficult because the lads are mentally drained from this season,” he said.
“I believe everyone needs the right time to recover. It’s going to be a funny one, some clubs will take it more seriously than others but I know we’ll definitely take it seriously.”
