Guardiola Commits to Reviving Injured Foden Amid England Omission

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is committed to supporting midfielder Phil Foden as he recovers from a challenging season marked by an ankle injury and off-field mental health struggles. Foden, who was omitted from England's squad for the June internationals upon his own request to focus on recovery, has experienced a significant drop in form compared to his previous award-winning season. Guardiola emphasized that the priority is Foden's wellbeing rather than immediate performance, expressing confidence that with rest, Foden will gradually return to his best. Despite Foden's suggestion that he might skip the Club World Cup for rest, Guardiola expects him to participate in the tournament in the United States. Additionally, Guardiola clarified that Manchester City had no involvement in England coach Thomas Tuchel's decision to exclude Foden from the national team, underscoring that such matters are at the discretion of the international manager. The club is also managing the cautious return of key midfielder Rodri, who is recovering from a long-term knee injury, as City aims to secure Champions League qualification with a final league match against Fulham.