Phil Foden Reflects on Goal Scoring Form and Competitive Spirit Ahead of Chelsea Clash

Phil Foden is riding high on the back of an impressive run of form, having netted five goals in his last three Premier League matches, a sequence that has undoubtedly bolstered his confidence.

After a slow start to the season, which saw him go goalless in the Premier League until 21 December, Foden has since found his scoring touch, bagging six goals in total. This is a stark contrast to his prolific 2023/24 season, where he finished with an incredible 27 goals and swept up multiple individual awards, including Premier League Player of the Season, Etihad Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, and PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

See Also: Phil Foden – “There’s Nowhere Better Than Manchester City”

Reflecting on his recent resurgence, Foden shared that scoring that first goal against West Ham was the catalyst for a change in his mindset. He revealed:

“Once you score that first goal, there’s just a different confidence inside you that you can go on to score more. I feel like that goal against West Ham was the start of a little switch for me where I felt more confident in myself, and it definitely helped. It was obviously nice to play the way I did against Ipswich.”

Despite his own return to form, Foden acknowledged that City’s season as a whole has been challenging. The defending champions currently sit fifth in the Premier League, with 38 points from 22 games, and know that a win over Chelsea on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium could see them leapfrog their opponents and return to the top four.

You Might Also Like: Cole Palmer and Phil Foden reflect on their Academy moments

“It’s been a very challenging season and not one that we are used to,” Foden admitted. “It’s been hard to keep a fully-fit squad, and we’ve had a lot of injuries. There’s a lot of pressure on us to deliver because that’s just the way it is when you’ve been one of the best in the last few seasons.”

Foden also expressed his belief in the importance of sticking together as a team, especially in times of adversity. With new signings like Omar Marmoush coming in to bolster the squad, Foden is optimistic that City can turn the season around and perform better in the second half of the campaign.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries and a lot of pressure on us to deliver,” he said. “It’s about sticking together and trying to deal with that pressure. Now with the new signings, hopefully, we can pick up our performances, change the season, and be better in the second half of the season.”

Marmoush, the Egyptian forward signed from Eintracht Frankfurt, adds extra competition for places in the attacking line-up. Foden, who has grown accustomed to fierce competition for spots in the squad, welcomes the challenge.

Recommended Reading: Foden at 50! Premier League Record

“I feel like since I’ve come into the team that’s how it has always been—there’s a lot of competition for places,” Foden explained. “It’s healthy because you know that if you’ve got the shirt, then you have to perform or else you will be out of the team. I think it’s good, so with the new signings, it can definitely bring that back for sure.”

As City prepares to face Chelsea on Saturday, all eyes will be on Foden as he looks to continue his fine form and help propel his team back into the title race.