Man City boss Guardiola backs England’s Tuchel on Foden position

MANCHESTER, England – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has supported England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s assessment that Phil Foden is most effective in a central position, saying the midfielder’s adaptability highlights his elite mentality and importance to the Premier League champions.

Foden scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, in City’s 3-2 victory over Leeds on Saturday after opening the scoring inside the first minute. The 25-year-old’s brace took him to six Premier League goals this season, behind only Erling Haaland in City’s scoring charts.

Tuchel recently recalled Foden to the England squad in November and said he no longer regarded him primarily as a winger. Guardiola agreed with the national team manager’s view and said Foden’s instincts make him a natural choice to operate closer to the goal.

“I agree with Thomas. I like to play Phil behind the striker close to the ball because a guy with this sense of goal has to be close to the goal,” Guardiola said after the match. “Sometimes he can be wide with other players more inside but I like Phil in the central positions.”

Guardiola acknowledged City are seeking to increase the number of goal threats around Haaland and sees Foden’s movement and finishing as crucial in breaking defensive structures and providing a secondary scoring outlet.

“We lack a bit of the sense of goal. The big teams score with many, many players,” he said. “If it’s just Erling that scores the goals, we will struggle.”

While Guardiola considers central midfield the ideal role for Foden, he highlighted the player’s readiness to operate in any position as a defining characteristic. Guardiola praised Foden’s attitude, describing him as one of the squad’s most competitive personalities.

“It’s a joy and a pleasure to have him,” Guardiola said. “He has an incredible mentality. If you tell him to play right, left or wide, he will do it. He wants to run, help the team and win the game.”

Guardiola said Foden’s drive, composure in tight moments and willingness to demand the ball separate him from his peers. “Some players step back when the situation is not comfortable. Phil is the opposite. He wants the ball, he wants to dribble, and he wants to score.”

Foden, a long-serving academy graduate and one of the club’s most influential players under Guardiola, continues to grow into a central role for both club and country. His strong early-season form suggests he could become an increasingly prominent figure in City’s attacking structure as Guardiola looks to diversify his goal-scoring options.