Phil Foden truly earned Pep Guardiola’s respect during the 2020/21 season through a bold act of defiance.
Since then, Foden has become a key player for Man City. Last season, he won the PFA Player of the Year award, scoring 19 goals and providing 8 assists in City’s Premier League title-winning campaign. He even scored a double on the final day to secure the championship.
Guardiola has often expressed his affection for Foden, but in October 2020, the two had a tense argument. The Spanish manager was unhappy with Foden’s free-kick during a 3-1 win over Porto in the Champions League.
Guardiola, known for his perfectionism and high demands of his players, criticized Foden for not following instructions. According to James Ducker from The Telegraph, Guardiola yelled, “Damn it, Phil! Damn it! You’re not doing what I say!”
Foden wasn’t upset by the criticism, but he felt Guardiola was treating him unfairly. Feeling “angry” at being singled out, Foden stormed into the dressing room and changed before his teammates returned.
When Guardiola came back, Foden was waiting for him and angrily said, “Don’t ever do that to me again! You wouldn’t do that to other players!”
Instead of reacting angrily, Guardiola apologized immediately, but he felt he needed to do more. The next day, he offered a second apology in a team meeting and decided to punish himself.
The fine was put directly into the players’ fund, a gesture that the squad appreciated. Guardiola also admired Foden for standing up for himself, something he had hoped Foden would do for some time.
This moment is believed to have been a turning point in Foden’s career at City, marking an important step in his transition from boy to man.