Phil Foden identifies three key components that have led to slow Manchester City start this season | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Phil Foden has pointed to three components that have led to a slow start to the season on an individual note, despite a return to top-level performance.

Foden has missed three of Manchester City’s opening matches entirely, and been named on the bench in the large majority of the other contests he has been involved in, as a reflection of the struggles he has faced this campaign so far.

However, with Pep Guardiola and his staff facing a growing injury list at the Etihad Stadium, there is a high chance that Foden will be called upon even more often in the coming weeks as the club’s fixture list remains unrelenting.

In the Champions League alone, Foden has been able to showcase the abilities that Manchester City fans have become accustomed to over the last few seasons, offering goals and chance creation from his favoured number 10 role.

Speaking to reporters after City’s 5-0 win over Sparta Prague this week, Phil Foden revealed the three components that have led to a slow start to the ongoing campaign, including fatigue carried over from an intense previous season.

“Obviously it’s been a bit of a slow start for me. Every player goes through it. I’m glad I’m back and enjoying my football again,” Foden said.

“Even last year I started a little bit slow. I don’t think there’s been a big difference in performances. Obviously I’ve not started as many. I had a bit of fatigue coming back from last year, a bit of illness. A few niggles as well. A few things added together,” he continued.

“But if you speak to any player they’ve all been through it, the ups and downs of football. It was just a bump in the road if you like, I’m delighted I’m back and enjoying my football.”

The 24-year-old also insisted on the inevitable ‘burn out’ that players will experience in the game today, with a growing number of matches coming into an annual football calendar, coupled with international duties and tournament commitments.

“Last year was so many games. I put everything I could into it,” Foden said. “I came back a little bit fatigued which is normal. Rodri came back like that as well, a few players. It’s normal with how many games we play – you have to burn out at some point.”

While many Manchester City fans would certainly prefer Foden to continue operating in the centre of the park when called upon by Pep Guardiola, injuries in wide positions could see a return of the 24-year-old into a wide berth.

For now, it is more likely that the likes of Savinho, Bernardo Silva, and Matheus Nunes will be granted opportunities out wide whilst Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, and Oscar Bobb continue their recovery processes from respective injuries.