7M - From best in league to bench - Foden's mysterious loss of form

Just twelve months after being celebrated as the finest player in the Premier League, Phil Foden finds himself in the middle of a baffling slump that has seen him relegated to the Manchester City substitutes' bench. The 25-year-old, who was instrumental in City’s historic fourth consecutive title win in 2024, has started only four of his team’s past twelve matches, a statistic that underlines the dramatic shift in his standing within Pep Guardiola’s squad. While he enjoyed a brief "purple patch" late last year, his output since the turn of 2026 has flatlined, with zero goals and zero assists in his last seventeen appearances across all competitions. This mysterious dip in performance has come at the worst possible time for both club and player, as City struggle to keep pace with Arsenal in the title race and Foden’s place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup begins to look increasingly precarious.

Tactical shifts at the Etihad Stadium appear to be a primary factor in Foden’s exclusion. Under Guardiola, Manchester City has moved away from the slower, methodical buildup play that suited Foden’s technical strengths, transitioning instead to a faster and more direct style. The arrivals of Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki have provided the explosiveness and verticality that Guardiola now prioritizes, often leaving Foden as the odd man out in a midfield that requires more physical intensity. Former England captain Wayne Rooney noted that the team’s current reliance on high-speed transitions does not always play to Foden’s preference for "tempo and calm," leading to a series of disjointed performances where the "Stockport Iniesta" has looked like a shadow of his former self. His recent error against Nottingham Forest, where he lost his marker for a late equalizer, served as a painful highlight of his current lack of focus and confidence.

Off the pitch, external factors may also be weighing on the playmaker. Foden has previously hinted at mental and physical fatigue, admitting that "things bigger than football" have affected his season. An ongoing ankle issue has forced him to play through pain for several months, further hindering his ability to produce the "explosive" gear-changes that define his game. Additionally, uncertainty surrounding his contract—which is set to expire in June 2027—has added a layer of complexity to his situation, with negotiations reportedly stalling due to his inconsistent output. Despite these challenges, Guardiola remains publicly supportive, describing Foden as "his son" and insisting that the midfielder will return to his best "step by step." However, with City facing a crucial run of games against Real Madrid and Arsenal, the mystery of Foden’s lost form remains one of the most pressing issues for the defending champions.