Phil Foden said he was very excited to work with coach Enzo Maresca. However, that statement should probably be understood in a "gentler" way.
Foden may be excited about the new season, with the opportunity to compete for titles, with a new contract and another start at Manchester City. But if you say he really expects training sessions under Maresca's strict direction, it's probably a bit hard to believe.
Maresca is famous for his meticulousness. Long video analysis sessions, detailed tactical requirements, strict discipline on the training ground and direct feedback are characteristics of his working style.
That is not exactly the environment that creates a pleasant feeling. But it may be exactly what Foden needs right now.
After nearly a decade under Pep Guardiola, Foden has won almost every major title at club level. He was once considered one of the brightest talents in England, wearing the national team jersey in three major tournaments and becoming part of Man City in their golden age.
However, at the age of 26, Foden still does not have a clear answer to a seemingly simple question: what kind of player is he really?
He can play as an attacking midfielder, striker, winger or play in the center. Foden passes well but is not a specialist in assisting. He possesses excellent technique but is not a purely dribbler. His scoring ability is also admirable, but he has never been considered a top killer.
Foden can do a lot on the field, but it is difficult to define by a specific role.
Guardiola continuously tested Foden in many positions. In 2022, he thought Foden was more suitable for the wing but predicted he would move to the center. A year later, Guardiola warned Foden to be less free if he wanted to take on the central role. By 2025, he again thought that the number 10 position, near the penalty area and allowed to move freely, was where Foden would best perform.
And there were also times when he played like a false 9 number. There were even times when Foden was pulled down to play deeper in midfield.
Foden's versatility was once a strength, but could also become a limitation. He gradually became a player who could be used in almost every position that Guardiola needed. The 26-year-old player is more like a flexible solution than an individual built around a fixed role.
It is worth mentioning that Foden once reached the highest level. In the 2023-2024 season, he scored 27 goals in all competitions and was voted Premier League Player of the Year. However, only 2 years later, that position changed significantly.
At the end of the 2025-2026 season, Foden was almost absent from Man City's important matches. He was not used against Real Madrid and only came on in the 90th minute of the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. After that, he was not named in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
A talent who was once expected to become an icon of English football now has to face the question of his own future. Foden's problem is therefore not only related to Man City or Maresca. He is also a test for the entire training system of English football.
Foden was once developed in almost ideal conditions. He joined Man City as a child, trained in a top-notch system, played alongside world-class players and was led by one of the greatest coaches in history. He was not pushed up to the first team too early but did not have to wait too long to be given the opportunity.
If a player who is cared for almost perfectly reaches the peak too early and then declines, then the question raised cannot be only for Foden.
Guardiola is certainly not the only one responsible. However, Foden being used in too many positions may also make it difficult for him to form a clear identity. He knows how to do many things, but does he know what he is really best at?
This is exactly what Maresca can change. Foden is still young and has time to rewrite the story. He has never had to become the center of a team facing difficulties himself, and has not had many opportunities to be given control of the match in his own way.
Even, we don't really know what Foden can do when Guardiola is no longer outside the boundary, guiding each position and movement time. Maresca may be the first person to force Foden to find the answer to the most important question: what player does he really want to become?
