It has been a mixed season for Manchester City. The treble winners sought to become the first English club to win two trebles. However, things never worked in favour of Pep Guardiola’s men from the start. Their key man Kevin De Bruyne was facing injury issues right from the start. He missed almost half of his season due to hamstring concerns. Injury concerns to Erling Haaland also left them in a difficult situation.
Pep needed someone to step up and depended on one of the English prodigies. England’s playmaker Phil Foden was the main man during this time. The 23-year-old has become a complete player since making it to the first team. This is his best season in professional football. Foden has been a different breed in the last few games and made an amazing start in 2024. Manchester City are still in contention to win all three trophies and here is how Foden is playing a key role in this.
Occupying the right flank
Riyad Mahrez left the club in the summer and this meant that Manchester City had an occupancy on the right flank. Phil Foden has taken that spot and plays as a right winger for his side. The Englishman has 37 appearances to his name. He averages 2.5 progressive runs per 90 minutes and completed 60.6% of his dribbles. In the last eight games, the youngster has started most of his runs down the flank. He likes to go to the centre of the field, rather than going wide and stretching the defence.
The above viz analyzes the player’s movement and positioning in the box, combined with their ability to make forward runs, indicating their threat level in attack. Foden takes around 5.4 touches inside the opposition penalty box per 90 minutes. He is rated among the best for making progressive runs and taking touches inside the opposition penalty box.
Winning the ball in attacking zones
To become a top player, it is necessary to recover the ball in dangerous attacking zones. Manchester City have been the best in the business. Foden makes four recoveries per 90 minutes and 62% of these recoveries came in the attacking half. In the last 10 matches, the youngster has made more of counter-pressing recoveries.
This plot measures the CAM’s capacity to engage in and win offensive duels, reflecting their ability to retain possession and create in tight spaces. Once again Foden is best in the business for contesting offensive duels and winning them.
Threatening opposition defences
It all started with a hat-trick against Brentford. Phil Foden has managed to score seven times in the last eight games. His tally for the season is 17. Foden averages 3.13 shots per 90 minutes and 44% of these have been on target. In the last eight matches, the average has gone up to nearly five shots per 90 minutes and that too with a 50% accuracy rate.
This visual evaluates the player’s effectiveness in scoring from open play and accuracy in shooting, excluding penalty goals. Once again Foden is best in the business.
Adding to his seven goals are two assists. The Englishman has created numerous chances down the flanks and delivered some crucial passes into the penalty box.
Phil Foden is a top performer and the future of his nation. He will aim to continue his rich form and hope to win more trophies with the club this season.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
