An emotional Pep Guardiola heralded Phil Foden for opening up on mental health difficulties that engulfed last year.
Guardiola was impassioned as he paid tribute to the Manchester City midfielder, who is approaching top form despite missing out on another England squad.
Foden revealed that he had endured ‘things off the pitch mentally’ and opted to take time off to reset, with his manager respecting the 25-year-old’s attitude towards his problems.
‘How strong he is for admitting it,’ Guardiola said. ‘A figure like Phil can be open minded and speak to all of society. Today the young teenagers and even older people struggle with that – nobody is away from that, everyone can be that.
‘To accept the reality, wow. That’s why when I see him now – and forget about the level he is performing, which is a top level… it’s about how he has been.
‘The joy in the training session is back, his laugh and his voice in the locker room. That is enough. It’s just what we want.’
Pep Guardiola has praised Phil Foden (left) for the way he talked about mental health struggles
The City boss said that Foden’s ‘joy, laugh and voice in the dressing room’ have returned
Foden’s start to this season was derailed by niggling injuries and he had struggled for starts during the Club World Cup.
But after being thrown in from the start for last month’s Manchester derby – scoring the opener during a 3-0 win – the academy graduate has flourished, becoming an integral part of their unbeaten run.
Foden has six goals on his last four trips to Sunday’s opponents Brentford, including a hat-trick in 2024.
‘We’re always there for Phil,’ Guardiola added. ‘The club for that is beyond exceptional. I’m happy step by step he’s getting better.
‘We always let them feel we are there, unconditionally whatever happens, I don’t care your performance when you feel that way, the human being comes first in front of everything in life.
‘We try to take care of the people in that way. Everybody knows the level he played last season and the level this season is another situation. Phil feels good.’
