Foden is a talented young player, known for his bold street football skills. His early career was marked by impressive dribbling, but just street football skills alone weren’t enough to make Foden one of the top stars in the Premier League.
To achieve the success he enjoys today, Foden has undergone relentless training. Under the guidance of coach Pep Guardiola, he transformed from a raw talent into a brilliant star, winning the “Player of the Year” award from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), thereby solidifying his prominent position in English football.
However, this journey wasn’t always smooth. Just a few years ago, even Guardiola had doubts about Foden’s potential. In May 2022, he stated that Foden needed more time to adapt to the central midfield role and was currently only suited to playing on the wing. Guardiola emphasized the importance of understanding and executing “la pausa”—a concept in Spanish football that describes the momentary pause when a player has the ball, creating space to attack. To master “la pausa,” a player needs a deep tactical understanding, which Guardiola felt Foden lacked at that time due to his quickness and impatience.
However, in the past season, Foden shone brightly in the attacking midfield role, scoring 4 goals and providing 15 assists. Notably, in the match against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Foden scored a stunning long-range goal after calmly controlling and preparing the ball. This goal not only thrilled Guardiola but also demonstrated Foden’s significant development, as he learned to “slow down the tempo of the game” like his outstanding teammates.
Foden grew up playing street football in Edgeley, a suburb of Stockport, where his street skills became an advantage when he joined the academy of Manchester City. Despite rising to the top of his career, the influence of street football remains deeply ingrained in his style of play. Occasionally, Foden still returns to Edgeley to play casual games with friends, maintaining the values that made him famous.
However, these instinctive skills were also Foden’s biggest challenge. He was once considered difficult to coach due to his natural, instinctive style of play. Even when he became a key figure for Manchester City in the 2019/20 season, Foden was criticized for not knowing how to move effectively on the pitch.
Fortunately, Foden had the opportunity to learn from and play alongside top midfielders like David Silva, De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva. From them, he learned how to control the tempo of the game, knowing when to slow down to manage the situation and create opportunities. Foden admitted that he initially disliked Bernardo Silva’s slow pace, but later realized it was a way for him to control himself and the game.
However, Foden will never become a Spanish-style midfielder, and that is precisely what Guardiola values about him. In crucial moments, a sudden burst of speed from Foden can break through the opponent’s defense. At Manchester City, no one can create such explosive moments better than Foden.