By KBC Associate 
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden says he has “struggled” with “things in life that are bigger than football” this season.
England international Foden won the Premier League Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year awards in 2023/24 with champions Manchester City, but the 24-year-old has not scored in 19 games for the Cityzens and England and has ended 2024/25 without a trophy.
“I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch, mentally,” said Foden, who has barely featured in City’s last eight matches in all competitions, remaining an unused substitute on three occasions and coming off the bench for 14 minutes in the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
“It’s one of them – sometimes there are things in life that are bigger than football. This season, I’ve struggled a little bit.”
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— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 16, 2025
Phil Foden injury ‘difficult’
Foden’s reduced role during the run-in has partly been the result of “bad” ligament damage he sustained in a tackle from Manchester United midfielder Casemiro during a 0-0 draw on April 6.
“It took a while to heal before I could push myself back in training,” he explained. “I had to look after it. It’s been a frustrating season.
“I know if everything was OK, I’d definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on. Unfortunately, I’ve had a difficult season.
“Now it’s just about improving and getting back to my best. I know my standards and what I can reach. I’m looking forward to getting back.
“Hopefully, come next year I can get my head mentally right and get back where I left the season before – because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.”
Man City ‘definitely’ taking Club World Cup ‘seriously’
Foden has a potentially busy schedule, with England visiting Andorra in 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying on June 7 (17:00 BST) and hosting Senegal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground three days later (19:45).
Before then, City can guarantee Champions League football next season with a point at Fulham in their final game of the season on Sunday (16:00), while their first fixture in the expanded Fifa Club World Cup is in Philadelphia on June 18 (17:00).
“I believe everyone needs the right time to recover,” said Foden, describing City’s squad as “mentally drained”.
“It’s going to be a funny one. Some clubs will take it more seriously than others but I know City and [being] the club we are, we’ll definitely take it seriously.
“We have to speak with the club and national team to see maybe if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100% back how I want it.
“I just don’t know at the moment. It’s a conversation to be had and we’ll see what happens.”