City’s Midfield Woes: Guardiola Provides Updates on Foden and De Bruyne Amid Man City Injuries
Pep Guardiola has provided key updates on two of Manchester City’s most influential midfielders, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne, amid a wave of injuries affecting the squad. The City boss spoke candidly about the state of Foden’s form and De Bruyne’s recovery as the club prepares for a crucial run of games.
Foden, who was instrumental in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, has had a slow start to the new campaign. His standout performances last year earned him the three most prestigious individual awards in English football. However, following a lackluster European Championship with England, where he struggled to make an impact, Foden has found himself on the periphery of Guardiola’s starting lineup.
The midfielder has been battling illness, which has kept him out of several key fixtures. Even when fit, Foden has mostly been relegated to the bench, with his only start this season coming in the League Cup against Watford. Guardiola, however, remains optimistic about the 23-year-old’s potential return to form.
“The 30 minutes he played at St James’ Park, I felt already something that I liked that I didn’t see against Watford,” Guardiola said, referencing Foden’s recent substitute appearance against Newcastle. “As much as he feels good, he will be back. Now he is smiling a bit and a bit in his rhythm. We cannot forget we have done without him, but he is an important player for us.”
Guardiola also shed light on De Bruyne’s ongoing recovery from a thigh injury sustained during the Champions League final against Inter Milan. The Belgian playmaker, a key figure in City’s recent dominance, is still sidelined, and there’s uncertainty about when he will return to the pitch.
“We cannot forget after the Euros, Foden had been two months without training with a few niggles and some problems. Kevin is still missing, and I’m unsure if he’ll be back before the next international break,” Guardiola added.
With City facing Slovan Bratislava next, fans are eager to see whether Foden will step up in De Bruyne’s absence and reassert his influence on the team.
City’s Midfield Woes: Guardiola Provides Updates on Foden and De Bruyne Amid Man City Injuries