Enzo Maresca has revealed that he held three private conversations with Phil Foden in an effort to help the Manchester City midfielder regain his best form.
The discussions took place particularly during the early stages of their work together, with Maresca seeking to reassure the 26-year-old of his importance to the team and remind him of his abilities.
The Italian manager said he had known Foden for years and understood the level of performance the England international was capable of producing.
“It’s been two or three times, especially at the beginning,” Maresca said. “Just to show him… I don’t know if love is the right word to use but to show him how important he is.”
He added: “I know Phil from years ago, so I know how good he is. For different reasons, the last few years he was not good enough.”
Foden Rediscovers His Scoring Touch
Foden has scored four goals in his last two matches, including a hat-trick in Manchester City’s Champions League fixture against AEK Athens.
The recent run represents a change for the midfielder, who had gone 10 months without scoring before finding the net again.
He also impressed in City’s victory over Ipswich Town, producing another strong performance as he continued his return to form.
Foden previously won the PFA Player of the Year award in 2024, but his performances over the past two years have seen him lose his guaranteed place in the starting line-ups of both Manchester City and England.
Maresca Takes Responsibility for Helping Foden
Maresca has repeatedly said that helping Foden return to his previous level is part of his responsibility as Manchester City’s manager.
The Italian also contacted the midfielder after he was left out of England’s World Cup squad, maintaining communication with him during a difficult period in his career.
“When you have more players like Phil available you are better,” Maresca said.
“For me, it’s my duty to try to help him to be one of the best players in England again.”
Manager Warns Against Rushing to Conclusions
Despite Foden’s recent goalscoring performances, Maresca cautioned against treating two matches as proof that the midfielder had fully returned to his former level.
He stressed that consistency across the season would be more important than isolated displays, given the number of matches Manchester City must play.
“It’s not just about one game. The season is very long with many games,” he said.
Maresca added that players selected for matches must be ready to perform and enjoy their football, whether the manager chooses Foden or another member of the squad.
Foden has also acknowledged that he still has considerable work to do before returning to the form that earned him the 2024 PFA Player of the Year award, although he believes he is moving in the right direction.
