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Foden on unique City bond, Guardiola and Maradona
- Phil Foden speaks to FIFA ahead of City’s Club World Cup campaign
- Six-time Premier League winner eyeing another major trophy
- England international reveals admiration for legendary Diego Maradona
Phil Foden is Manchester City through and through. A preciously talented youngster who joined the club aged four, he has gone on to become a symbol of the club’s greatest era.
This homegrown hero has played an integral role as Pep Guardiola’s side have established themselves as one of the premier forces in world football. An intelligent, decisive and technically supreme playmaker, the 25-year-old has made more than 300 City appearances and is just three goals away from hitting the century mark for his boyhood team.
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It is distinctly possible, then, that he could reach that milestone at the groundbreaking FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. Foden is part of the City squad who will kick off their campaign against Moroccan giants Wydad AC in Philadelphia on Wednesday. They will then travel to Atlanta to face Al Ain FC before concluding their Group G fixtures with an all-European showdown with Juventus FC in Orlando.
With anticipation ramping up ahead of City's global title tilt, Foden discussed his targets in the USA, what makes coach Guardiola special, and the family environment which has helped underpin the club’s success.
FIFA: How much are you looking forward to the Club World Cup and what are your goals at the tournament?
Phil Foden: I’m very excited. It’s going to be something new for us, something we’ve not experienced before. It will be the best teams from all around the world. Obviously, we want to win it, but my personal goal is to enjoy it, compete against the best players and try to perform to the best of my ability.
What type of atmosphere do you think we will get at the competition?
I hope the atmosphere is amazing, and I’m sure it will be. I’m looking forward to playing at the different venues. Seeing those stadiums, the fans, playing against the best teams… that’s what you want to do. It’s about experiencing different things in life.
You will be coming up against sides you may not have faced before. How will you approach that?
I’m looking forward to meeting new teams and seeing what they are about. I’m sure it will be entertaining for the fans to see those teams too. Everyone has their own style and what they believe in. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
You have the opportunity to win the first edition of this competition. How big a motivation is that?
We’ve spoken about that – being the first (name) on the trophy would be nice. That’s definitely the aim and, with the quality that we have in the team, I am sure we’re more than capable of doing it.
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You’ve been with City since you were a kid. How would you describe the connection you have the club?
Unique, I think. It’s not very often that a player comes through the full academy (system) and stays in the first team for a number of years and wins loads of trophies. We are like a family. I think we’ve built that (feeling) now, playing at the Etihad. It’s like one family and we’re all together.
One other academy graduate who has shone this season is 20-year-old Nico O’Reilly. What makes him such an exciting prospect?
He’s got a very good attitude. He’s a very humble guy, he never gets ahead of himself. He is someone I look at in training and it’s really good to see how much he wants to learn and improve. He’s looking at the older players, at how professional they are, and taking bits from that. Managers don’t play people unless they deserve it, so he’s definitely deserved his opportunity. He has a very good physical presence on the pitch. He’s played left-back, which is not his natural position (O’Reilly is a midfielder by trade), but when you see how well he has done, it just shows how hard he’s worked. He’s a top player.
Pep Guardiola is known for being an incredible tactician. What has stood out to you about him in that respect?
His attention to detail is always spot on. He could tell you to move half a yard one way, and it makes a massive difference in creating a chance or scoring. Just those small details, he gets it right every time.
Finally, if you could play with one footballer in the history of the sport, who would it be?
Probably Diego Maradona. When I watch his highlights on YouTube, you see how the ball just sticks to his foot, and all the goals he scored in the World Cup. I’d love to just see him in training and see what he’s about.
