Manchester City star, Phil Foden has provided a robust and holistic interview, detailing his career and distinctive elements of it.
Foden, who developed through the ranks of Manchester City, having formerly been a ball boy of the English side, made his debut for the Cityzens on December 16, 2017, featuring in a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, aged 17 years, 6 months, and 18 days.
Phil Foden interview about his career and other intriguing angles
Speaking in an expository interview with the Daily Mail, Foden touched on Manchester City’s focus on winning the Premier League title, having lost the chance to win the UEFA Champions League after losing in the quarter-finals to Real Madrid.
The Englishman said: “We understand it here.
“We know if we win the Premier League this time we will have done something new. It’s something we have our eyes on.
“Every time we put our boots on at the training ground that saying is there on the wall.”
He indicated that Manchester City are focused on achieving history, as they know what winning 4 Premier League titles in a row means.
Foden added: “It says: “Nobody has won four Premier Leagues in a row…yet”.
“We want to put ourselves in history.
“Every day I sit and look at that slogan and I think: “Why not?”.”
Foden talks about how he has to maintain certain standards in his career
The 23-year-old, who will be 24 on May 28, 2024, also talked about how he has had to maintain certain standards after breaking into the Manchester City side.
He said: “It’s been hard sometimes, you know, being the City fan who was a ball boy and then making it through the levels to the first team.
“I don’t think it will ever really change you know? A little bit of that feeling is always gonna be there. But I have balance now. Maybe it’s finally gone this year, I don’t know.
“The challenge for me was always a mountain to climb to even reach the first team.
“In my head I just wanted to make one appearance for this club and be able to say that I had done it.
“But once I did that I thought: “No I can actually play here. I can handle the standard”.
“Now I am at that stage where I feel like I am a key player in the team. I feel very comfortable with that.”
Phil Foden is a Manchester City boy through and through, a Mancunian, who has exuded brilliance for the Cityzens this campaign.
Phil Foden proud about training with Manchester City first team aged 16-years-old
On his Instagram account, there is a heartwarming photograph of Foden training with the first team of Manchester City for the first time in 2016, with City legends Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure lurking nearby.
Aged 16 at the time, Foden expressed that the picture made him very proud, and sharing the changing room alongside these stars was a big moment for him.
The Englishman said: “That photo makes me very proud. Sharing that changing room was a real big moment.”
“I remember going into the Rondo [where a player in the middle of a circle tries to intercept passes made from one side to the other] for the first time and just thinking: “Oh wow. How am I gonna reach that level?”
“That Rondo… you just weren’t getting the ball. You were stuck in there in the middle for about ten minutes. But then, as time wore on, you learn to move the ball a bit quicker, just like they do.”
The myth about Phil Foden
Meanwhile, this will definitely interest you, there is a myth in the blue side of Manchester about Foden and his stint as a ball boy of Manchester City.
Certain people felt he was the player who threw the ball back for the corner that led to Eden Dzeko’s equalizer against QPR as the Cityzens fought back from the jaws of defeat to win the 2012 Premier League title.
Phil Foden has cleared the air, saying he was not the one, and that those stories were fabricated and they are false.
He said: “No, it’s not true.
“I was actually behind that goal in the crowd with my mum. At the end, we were on the pitch with everybody else.
“It was the biggest thing to happen in the club’s history. Without that Aguero goal we don’t go on and achieve what we have achieved today.
“So many thanks to Sergio Aguero for that…”
Why does Foden wear the jersey number 47?
Phil Foden, who was tutored by several key stars, and learnt a lot from several top players, including; Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany, shared the reason why he wears the number 47.
He said: “Being a young player you don’t have many options when it comes to what you can have on your shirt.
“I had a few numbers sent to me and none of them really meant anything to me apart from that one, the 47.
“That was the age my grandad was when he died. I was young when we lost him. I remember going to Wales with him and on a few other trips. My dad says he loved playing football with me.
“I asked my dad if he would be happy if I wore that number. He said it would be amazing so I took the shirt number and I have loved it ever since.”
The England international added that he has the number tattooed on him, and the shirt number is one he doesn’t ever see changing.
He said: “I have it tattooed on me now and it’s a shirt I don’t ever see changing. It’s nice to make your own legacy.
“It’s a strange number nobody else will go for so hopefully in years to come when I have finished, 47 at City will be remembered for Phil Foden.”
Foden on the exit of Jurgen Klopp
Additionally, Foden also delivered his thoughts on the impending exit of Jurgen Klopp from Liverpool
He said: “It’s a shame that Jurgen Klopp is leaving.
“He’s been brilliant. To face his team isn’t nice but I think he is good for the game. He has changed Liverpool and it will be sad to see him go.
“I always want to play against the best.”
The attacker, who has played under Pep Guardiola virtually throughout his career thus far, lauded his manager for his hunger for success.
He was questioned if it was exhausting playing under Guardiola, and the 23-year-old responded:
“No, it’s the total opposite.
“It’s so enjoyable. You look at what he’s won and you would think he may be tired by now but every season he is the same. You can’t help but rise to it.”
Foden on his desire to win any of the top individual awards in England
When quizzed over his desire to win any of the top individual awards in England, particularly the Player of the Year Awards in which one will be handed by the PFA and the other by the Football Writers’ Association, he said: “I hope I am up there in the conversation. I am not gonna lie.”
The Englishman added: I want to be one of the best Premier League players this season. I think I have the ability.”
Phil Foden career stats
Phil Foden has made 46 appearances this season, scoring 22 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions.
Cumulatively, Foden has made 263 club career appearances, scoring 82 goals and providing 51 assists in all competitions.
Internationally, Phil Foden has made 33 appearances for England, scoring 4 goals and providing 8 assists.
