Man City news: Opinion – Phil Foden on slow start to the season

Walking through the mix zone after the win over Sparta Prague was a very smiley Phil Foden.

Arms folded but white teeth on show, Foden was one of four goalscorers on the pitch for Manchester City.

Wednesday night was just his fourth start in the nine games he has featured in. City have played 12 – so where has he been?

“It’s nice to start and score,” he told BBC Radio Manchester.

“I’m enjoying my football again. Obviously it’s been a slow start for me. Every player goes through it, but I’m back now.

“Even last year I started slow. There’s not been a big difference. A bit of fatigue coming back from last season, illness, a few niggles as well. It’s a few things added together.”

He is not wrong. After nine games for City last season, he had just one goal – he has got two in his first nine this campaign.

“Any player has been through the ups and downs of football. It was just a bump in the road,” Foden added.

Although he admitted being still some way off his best, hinting at ‘burnout’ and drawing comparisons with Rodri, Foden is now hoping for a run of games to get his form and fitness back to the high standards of last year, which saw him finish with his best ever goal tally for the club in a season.

He signed off with one simple sentence: “I’m definitely happy.”

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