Patient Phil won’t follow Sancho out of the Etihad
PHIL Foden must sometimes wonder what you have to do to say the right thing in the mad world of modern football.
The 19-year-old is having the perfect tutelage as a footballer, learning his trade at the feet of Pep Guardiola and by rubbing shoulders with David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne.
And yet there has been a clamour, ever since he inspired England’s Under-17 World Cup win two years ago, for him to be pushed harder at City.
Fans of England can see a bright future, when rising stars like Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount and Foden are altogether in a squad that already contains relatively young - but established - players like Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane.
Guardiola has urged patience over the last two years and the fact that Foden still has room to mature physically - something that has caused the City academy to hold him back at times - has been taken into account.
But Guardiola changed tack recently and suggested that Foden is in a position where he could be more demanding.
He said: “I would like him to talk more to me, but all the time I go to him and speak to him, so he still looks at me like a little bit respect, like a manager and after two or three season it’s not necessary, but it’s normal. He is 19 years old.”
That goes against the grain for Foden, a tongue-tied teenager whose persuasive ability lies in his feet, not in verbal eloquence.
Guardiola’s words are perhaps his way of urging Foden to express his personality more, to stand up for himself and fight his corner.
It was certainly not an invitation for him to be hammering on his office door every day, demanding to play there is only one outcome when a player takes that route with Guardiola.
But once the City boss had spoken, the narrative became that the Blues are not playing Foden enough and the player is not showing enough hunger, or drive, or ambition, for Pep’s liking.
Foden’s response was interesting, too. Asked about the manager’s comments in the mixed zone after he had masterminded England under19s’ win over Turkey, the Stockport lad probably tried to play it down, but inadvertently ended up playing it up slightly.
He said that badgering the manager was not his style and that he would carry on working hard in training to earn his place in the team.
“There is a bit of team-mates telling me to be patient but obviously I’m hungry and want to play now,” he said.
“I’m going to fight for it every day. I’m ready to play whenever.”
Which was a young player responding to the manager’s suggestion that he be a little bolder and more self-confident, a gauche attempt to assert himself a little more, but without upsetting any apple-carts.
Of course, that has been interpreted by some fans as Foden firing a warning shot across the manager’s bows and the fears that Foden will go the way of Jadon Sancho and leave the club, cranked up a notch.
It does not have the same feel. Guardiola’s challenge to Foden, to prove he is good enough to play in this brilliant team, is a compliment.
He will not get picked simply to keep him happy, or to give him experience. He will be picked because he is worth his place.
Foden is capable of meeting that challenge, and if he does so, he, the club and his country will all reap the benefit.
Foden will not get picked simply to keep him happy. He will be picked because he is worth his place