- Phil Foden has endured a difficult season with Manchester City
- The England international should be rested this summer, says Ian Ladyman
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Gary Neville is wrong about Peop Guardiola
Phil Foden’s form has ‘fallen off a cliff’ and he needs to be left out of Manchester City’s squad for this summer’s Club World Cup, Ian Ladyman has told Chris Sutton on the latest ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ podcast.
Foden, 24, was subbed off before the hour mark during Sunday’s turgid Manchester derby which finished goalless.
The winger still made headlines after the match as he was the target of abusive chants about his mother from rival fans.
Looking ahead to this summer’s Club World Cup, The Mail’s Football Editor Ian Ladyman told co-host Chris Sutton that Foden’s ‘exhausted’ performances show that the player needs a sustained break from the game to recover his form.
‘Foden looks ruined, he looks exhausted, he looks like he needs a long rest’, Ladyman said.
‘I think at times with footballers, you get to a point where you’ve got to ask yourself: do we need that player for this tournament? What is best for him? Do we have a duty of care towards him?’
Ian Ladyman: ‘Foden looks ruined, he looks exhausted, he looks like he needs a long rest’
Foden was subbed off before the hour mark during Sunday’s turgid Manchester derby
Foden was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season last season
‘It doesn’t happen very often, but I think we’re getting to that point with Phil Foden – that guy needs to be left at home in June and July, so he can take a breath and get ready for next season.
‘With Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and De Bruyne, you can put down their form to age, playing at the highest level for a decade. You can’t say that with Phil, he’s a young player – there’s got to be another reason for what we’re seeing.
‘This isn’t a dip – he looks on the floor.’
Last season, Foden recorded 19 goals and 8 assists across all competitions: his tally this season stands at 7 goals and 2 assists in 10 fewer matches.
He was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season but struggled to make an impact for England at the Euros.
Former professional player and pundit Chris Sutton defended Foden, accusing Ladyman of unfairly ‘singling him out’ from an underperforming City side.
‘All players go through this; I went through it. He was the best player in the country last year and he’s now having a dip.
‘You’re singling Foden out because of his age. I don’t see age the way you’re seeing it. Foden is one of many Manchester City players whose form has fallen off a cliff.
‘Pep Guardiola is smart enough to realise if there’s an issue beyond football, whether or not he needs a mental break from the game. But I think you can say that about any Manchester City player right now.’
Sutton added however that he believes no Manchester City players should be going to the Club World Cup this summer based on their tired performances this season.
‘We know what that tournament’s all about: it’s about money, it’s about finance, it’s about greed.
‘None of the Manchester City players, based on this season’s form, should be going. But they are going to go – I don’t see Foden as different from any of them.’
To hear Ian Ladyman and Chris Sutton’s full opinions on Phil Foden, listen to ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ now, wherever you get your podcasts.
