Pep Guardiola is eager to help struggling midfielder Phil Foden but insisted he did not ask England boss Thomas Tuchel to leave him out of the squad for the June internationals.
Foden was not included in the group Tuchel named this morning for the games with Andorra and Senegal with the Manchester City midfielder struggling with an ankle injury and off-field issues.
Guardiola says there was no collaboration with the German regarding his decision. He said: “It’s true that for a long time he’s been struggling with his ankle but I haven’t spoken to Thomas. What happens with the international team is down to Thomas Tuchel.”
Foden won the PFA Player of the Season award last year after netting 19 league goals as City won the title. This year has been altogether different, however, with the 24-year-old managing just 10 in all competitions with City enduring a miserable campaign that is set to end without a trophy.
And Guardiola is eager to help Foden get his career back on track.
“We want to help him and that’s the most important thing,” he added. “He needs rest and then he will come back. I want to help him. I don’t care about his performance, I just want him to feel good because then the rest will come in an easy way.”
“All we want is to help him” 💬
Pep Guardiola on ‘tired’ Phil Foden 🤝 pic.twitter.com/uLwDlJAS49
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 23, 2025
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Rodri’s return will take some time – Guardiola
Key midfielder Rodri made his long-awaited return in midweek in the win over Bournemouth but, having been sidelined for eight months due to a ruptured ACL, Guardiola is not expecting him to return to his best any time soon.
“We’re really pleased he’s back, really pleased for the reaction for our people to him, I’m pretty sure he’s so pleased with that,” he said. “There’s still a long way to be the Rodri he was.
“After surgery you always have to be careful or you can have muscular problems.
“It is a [positive] step for his mind and his knee, but we won’t yet see Rodri as we know him.”
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City look to secure top-five spot
City head to Fulham on Sunday needing a point to be certain of playing in the Champions League next season.
The Cottagers’ European hopes are over but Guardiola remains wary of Marco Silva’s side.
He said: “It is better arriving in the last game knowing it depends on you.
“We need one point to go in the Champions League next season, but we need to win against a top side.
Mateo Kovacic is suspended while John Stones remains sidelined through injury.
