Pep Guardiola sends Phil Foden message over Man City form

Pep Guardiola sends Phil Foden message over Man City form - 'Don't lose that'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken with Phil Foden on how to get the best out of him again

Pep Guardiola has told Phil Foden to focus on what he does best on a football pitch as Manchester City look to bring the England star back into form. The 25-year-old was the best player in the league two years ago but struggled badly last season and after shining in the first half of this season his form has disappeared again.

City have shown their faith in Foden this week, agreeing to a new long-term deal for the academy graduate that will commit him to the club into the next decade. But he hasn't started a Premier League game in more than two months and his chances of making Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup are getting weaker with every week he cannot force his way into Guardiola's team.

The City boss has long maintained that he has no doubts that Foden will find his best form again, and has continued to use the player from the bench. However, he has also held talks with the midfielder to try and guide him towards that as the Blues hope for more returns on someone who has already given them so much.

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“I said many times, I have no doubt about Phil. About his impact. He's a home ground player for our academy. I've been massively important in our seasons together," said Guardiola.

“And I wish from the bottom of my heart he can come back to his best and play the next years with all of us. The minutes he played at Everton, his movements and his aggressiveness, we’ve talked about it and said ‘So, Phil, who you are as a player? What is your biggest quality?’

“It's ball, turn and go. Go, turn and go. And attack the box. And don't lose that. It doesn't matter if you are in better form or bad form. So, you are not a team player like to control the game. Your quality is be a machine attacking the ball with the sense of assists and goals. And make the keeper threat that you're going to shoot.

"And it happened two or three times against Everton. At that moment, go on the pitch with one, two down or three. One, three is not easy. You know that? And he did really well."

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