Phil Foden has admitted it would be ‘really sad’ if manager Pep Guardiola were to leave the Etihad next year when his contract is due to run out.
While in the midst of celebrating the club’s record-breaking fourth Premier League title in a row and before the FA Cup Final yet to be played out, Guardiola hinted that he could be coming to the end of his tenure.
With his current deal running to the end of the next season, Guardiola raised the idea of his departure by stating ‘the reality is I am closer to leaving than staying’.
This would effective spell the end to his legacy at Manchester City, which has seen him win six Premier League titles in seven years and star player Phil Foden confessed in an interview with the BBC that he would be gutted to see Guardiola leave.
“Obviously it would be really sad. I’ve not known any other thing apart from him, so it’ll be strange when he does go,” Foden said.
“I don’t want to think too much about it. I want to enjoy the things we’re doing now with him.”
Foden has been the league’s outstanding player in City’s title-winning campaign, and has already been both the Premier League’s Plahyer of the Year and the Football Writer’s award winner.
The 23-year-old has scored 19 goals and provided eight assists in the Premier League, on route to winning his sixth title medal.
Talking about his manager, the England forward credits Guardiola for improving his game because he ‘simplifies football’, and shares the advice he gave him this season.
“I feel like there’s other managers out there who complicate it a little bit,’ Foden continued.
“The best advice he gave me this season was just ‘don’t try and be Phil Foden in every action’, and I feel like that advice really went a long way.
“I’ve been here for a long time now working with the manager. And I think now is the time for me to step up and try and be the man who’s going to score the goals.
“I knew what I was capable of doing this season, it’s so good to say that I’ve had a good season and I want to continue to play well.”
He’s not the only one hoping the form continues, Foden is set to play a key role in England’s Euro 2024 bid but questions remain where Gareth Southgate will deploy the player.
This season has seen Foden play more centrally, and he believes that midfield role is what suits him best.
Adding: “I’ve always said that I like midfield. It’s my best position.
“But I think I’ve shown this year as well that I can play in any position that the manager puts me.
“I’ve played off the wide left and wide right and still done a good job.”
Before he can think about the summer in Germany, Foden will look to finish the season off in style by helping Man City become the first club to do back-to-back doubles, if they can overcome Man United in this weekend’s FA Cup Final.