Phil Foden shares his ideas on Man City’s turbulent season – and divulges why Gareth Southgate’s departure was ‘gutting’ for England

Phil Foden has shared his thoughts on Manchester City’s turbulent season and the ‘gutting’ departure of former England head coach Gareth Southgate in a new interview. 

The PFA Players’ Player of the Year has endured an uneven season with the serial champions, with Pep Guardiola‘s side in unknown waters ahead of the sharp end of their 2024-25 campaign after a number of years of unparalleled successes. 

Man City remain in contention for just one piece of silverware at the end of term – the FA Cup – after unusually early exits in the Carabao Cup and Champions League. 

Guardiola’s players are also someway off the summit of the Premier League table, 22 points off league leaders Liverpool with 48 after 29 games played. 

The Manchester side sit fifth in the table, and have not won back-to-back league games since January. 

But Foden has vowed to learn a lesson from Man City’s struggles, and told GQ that the players’ goal is to remain ‘positive’. 

Phil Foden has opened up about his season with Manchester United in a new interview with GQ

The player has struggled to hit the heady heights of his form during the 2023-24 campaign

Foden was awarded the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award after a superlative season saw him make 27 Premier League goal contributions 

‘Being in this position, I’ve not really been used to it, so it’s just something you’ve got to take on the chin,’ Foden said. 

‘Unfortunately it’s just one of them seasons. We can still finish it off strong and we’ve just got to remain positive and trust in everything that we’ve done and stick together.’

During his challenges on the pitch, Foden added that he had taken comfort in family life. 

The midfielder shares three children, including social media star Ronnie and daughter True, with his partner Rebecca Cooke, and the 24-year-old was keen to stress the important perspective they bring to his life. 

‘I love being a parent,’ Foden added. ‘When things are not going well, if you’ve not won, you don’t think you’ve played well, it helps to go home to your kids – just to see them smiling and joking definitely helps me. 

‘It makes you feel like there’s more to life than football.’

Although Foden has been unable to match his superlative 2023-24 season, the player earned a call-up ahead of the international break to new manager Tuchel’s maiden England camp. 

Foden was long considered one of former head coach Gareth Southgate’s midfield stalwarts, but explained that he is relishing the challenge of sinking his teeth into the new atmosphere Tuchel’s arrival will create in the national set-up. 

Foden struck a number of poses during the photoshoot in his native Stockport, which saw him sport outfits featuring brands such as Nike and Burberry

Foden received his maiden call-up by new England manager Thomas Tuchel during the break

The 24-year-old described it as ‘gutting’ to lose the Euro 2024 final with Gareth Southgate

‘We’re all looking forward to the new chapter and to see what Thomas is about,’ Foden continued. ‘I’ve never worked with him before, so it’s going to be a new experience and I’m excited to see what he’s like. 

‘Sometimes when there’s a new manager, it creates a different atmosphere, so I’m really hoping that it’s going to be good. 

‘A lot of us had a lot of respect for Gareth (Southgate), for what he did for us as a person. Getting to the (Euro 2024) final and not being able to win it for him is… it was just gutting. 

‘Seeing Gareth leave was gutting too because he was such a good guy and a good coach. But that’s football – things happen and people move on.’