Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has expressed his delight with his strong start to the 2025-26 season, confidently stating that the former Premier League champions are poised to improve even further as the campaign unfolds. With 16 points from their first nine league matches, City have the opportunity to climb to second in the table with a victory over Bournemouth this Sunday, a position that underscores a solid, if not yet dominant, beginning to their title quest.
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has expressed his delight with his strong start to the 2025-26 season, confidently stating that the former Premier League champions are poised to improve even further as the campaign unfolds. With 16 points from their first nine league matches, City have the opportunity to climb to second in the table with a victory over Bournemouth this Sunday, a position that underscores a solid, if not yet dominant, beginning to their title quest.
After a challenging previous season marred by fitness and form issues, Foden has re-established himself as a key figure in Pep Guardiola's starting eleven. The 25-year-old has already made 11 appearances across all competitions, contributing two goals and two assists in his seven Premier League outings. This return to prominence comes at a significant personal milestone; if selected against Bournemouth, Foden is set to make his 200th appearance for the club he joined as a youth player. Reflecting on the team's position, Foden told reporters, "The season isn’t going to be decided in the first 10 games. I’m happy with where we are at. There is still a lot to improve, but overall, it’s been a positive start."
Foden's satisfaction extends to his individual performances, which he believes showcase a marked improvement from the difficulties of the 2024-25 campaign. He acknowledged that his direct goal contributions might not tell the full story, but emphasized his overall impact on the pitch. "I think I’m in good form and I’ve been playing well," Foden added. "Maybe the goals and assists don’t say that, but I think overall the performances have been pretty good – much better than last season, so I’m happy with that."
His journey to 200 games is a testament to his integral role during the most successful period in the club's history, a era that has yielded six league titles, multiple domestic cups, and a Champions League triumph. Manager Pep Guardiola recently praised this achievement, stating, "It's an honour for me to see his impact, for the club of his heart, it's a good milestone at his age."
With his club form firmly back on track, Foden's attention is now turning towards an international recall. The winger has not featured for England since he voluntarily stepped away from the squad in June to focus on his physical and mental well-being. After an injury ruled him out for September, he was a surprise omission from Thomas Tuchel's squad for the October fixtures, alongside other high-profile names like Jude Bellingham. With the German coach set to name his squad for the upcoming games against Serbia and Albania, Foden will be hoping his consistent performances for City have put him in a strong position to make his return to the national team setup.
