The 2023/24 season was a truly special one for Manchester City star Phil Foden – but the ace has now commented on something he actually gets a fair bit of stick for from rival fans.
Foden enjoyed the best season of his career, plundering 27 goals and making 12 assists across all competitions.
Foden was named the FWA Footballer of the Year, and then scooped the Premier League Player of the Season to boot.
The 24-year-old was just in stunning form throughout for City, stepping up when Kevin De Bruyne was out injured and continuing to do so once the Belgian had returned from injury.
There are zero doubts from anyone about Foden in a Manchester City shirt nowadays.
But the same cannot be said about when he dons an England shirt, and Foden has now addressed the criticism he gets from some about his level for the national team…
Man City star Phil Foden reacts to criticism of him in an England shirt
In recent times, Foden has become more prominent within the England team.
Gareth Southgate has now given him a full game in each of the last five England matches, signifying his importance.
Many have been clamouring for Foden to play regularly for England and for him to play centrally, given the success he has had in that role for City.
£225,000-a-week star Foden has flourished, and the feeling for many has been that Southgate simply cannot play him in any other position now for the national team.
But some still have their reservations about Foden in an England shirt. The star has only scored four goals in his 33 caps, and has arguably never shown the City version of himself for his country.
Speaking about this, he said: “There’s a lot of pressure on my shoulders. A lot of people are saying I need to show more for my country. I don’t mind the pressure. I feel like I can definitely be a lot better for the national team.
”I’m so determined now to put on the shirt and prove everyone wrong and try and continue my form. That’s my aim now, to do the nation proud, to perform to the best of my abilities. I know it’s coming now in an England shirt.”
Foden’s time to shine with England
The criticism of Foden’s performance levels for England is no real surprise. It is not uncommon for rival fans to take a pop at players not at their own clubs they feel aren’t showing their best.
But Foden has a fantastic chance now to silence some of the doubters.
He heads into Euro 2024 in the form of his life having guided City to a fourth straight Premier League title a couple of weeks ago.
He was mesmerising in 2023/24, with the legendary Alan Shearer even branding him ‘unplayable’ at times.
If Southgate can get him in that central role and build the team around him, then he will thrive. A player of his quality, surrounded by other world-class stars, simply cannot fail if the system is adjusted for him.
Foden is clearly aware of the comments some have made about him for England. Hopefully, he will be using that as fuel out in Germany.