Phil Foden is hoping to make up for lost time after his return to form in Manchester City’s comfortable victory against Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia. The England international played a crucial role in City’s 4-0 success, scoring one goal and setting up another as they secured their first win in the 2024-25 Champions League.
Having faced fitness issues, it was only Foden’s second start since August. The 24-year-old expressed his delight at being back on the field, stating, “It’s nice to score again, but more importantly I’m just enjoying my football again. I’m delighted with the result and how I played. I’ve had a very slow start to the season with a bit of illness and fatigue, but I’m getting back into it now and feeling more like myself.”
City took an early lead with goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Foden within the first 15 minutes. Despite hitting the woodwork three times, they continued to create chances and eventually sealed the victory with goals from Erling Haaland and substitute James McAtee, who scored his first goal for the club.
Reflecting on the match, Foden acknowledged the challenge posed by Slovan Bratislava, saying, “I don’t think it was easy, it was tough to break them down. You’ve got to give them respect and the atmosphere was unbelievable but we did the job in the end.”
With four points from two Champions League games, City now focus on their upcoming Premier League fixture against Fulham. Foden highlighted the importance of finding new ways to break down defensive teams in the league, as they aim to secure a victory before the international break.
City will be seeking to build on their recent performances against Arsenal and Newcastle, where they were unable to secure wins. Foden expressed his confidence in the team, stating, “I am obviously confident and believe in the team but this season teams have played the same way, where they defend on the edge of the box and it’s been difficult to break them down. Hopefully, we can find new ways to break it down and score goals. That’s the aim.”
As City look ahead to their upcoming fixtures, Foden’s return to form serves as a positive sign for the team as they strive for success both domestically and in European competition.