When Foden 'steals the spotlight' from Haaland

08/11/2025 07:46:00 pandatv

Phil Foden's two stunning goals against Dortmund in the recent Champions League not only secured a 4-1 victory for Man City but also marked a remarkable comeback for the midfielder once hailed as England's "precious gem."

1. This season, Man City continues to heavily rely on Erling Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess. In the Premier League and Champions League combined, the Norwegian striker has netted 18 goals, accounting for half of the team’s total. However, this dependency has made City predictable. Many teams choose to "surround" Haaland, suffocating the central areas and occasionally leaving Pep Guardiola’s attack stifled.

Therefore, Foden’s resurgence is vital. When Foden returns to his peak form, City instantly gains an additional potent attacking threat, capable of sharing the scoring burden with Haaland and opening up a second attacking option.

Against Dortmund, Foden delivered two exquisite strikes from outside the box. Those goals recalled the Foden of the 2023/24 season, when he scored 27 goals across all competitions and was honored as the Premier League Player of the Year.

Notably, the chemistry between Foden and Haaland is growing stronger. Though not a traditional striking duo, they are developing a unique connection. Haaland draws defenders’ attention, creating vast spaces behind the backline. Foden, with his intelligent movement and skillful close control, exploits these gaps to the fullest.

In matches against Dortmund, Bournemouth, and Monaco, Guardiola’s "two false strikers" system has functioned smoothly: Haaland acts as a "magnet" pulling center-backs, while Foden quietly appears between defenders and midfielders to unleash shots or deliver decisive passes. Even Pep admitted, "We’ve missed Foden a lot. He doesn’t need to shoot hard; he just places the ball in the corner as if passing it into the net. That’s something City has lacked for a whole year."

Foden’s timely return is crucial for Man City’s survival

Statistics show that since the start of the 2023/24 season, Foden has scored 11 goals from outside the penalty area—the highest among all Premier League players. This figure highlights his ability to create moments of brilliance, a quality no other City player, including Haaland or Doku, can replace.

2. The 2024/25 season was a challenging period for Foden. After helping City achieve the treble in 2023, he seemed physically and mentally exhausted. Minor injuries and losing his starting spot caused the 2000-born player to lose confidence. He managed only 5 goals in the first half of last season, his lowest since joining the first team.

But this season, with Kevin De Bruyne’s departure and Guardiola forced to find a successor, Foden seized the opportunity. Positioned centrally rather than on the wing, he became the "brain" of City’s attack, orchestrating play and launching unexpected long-range shots.

Foden expressed his excitement after the win against Dortmund: "I’m really enjoying football again. Last season was tough, not just for me but for the whole team. But now the squad is more united, and I feel the joy of playing football once more."

Pep summed it up succinctly: "Phil is back. When he’s happy and confident, there’s nothing more to say. He’s a special player."

3. Man City is at a critical stage of the season, aiming for a double: reclaiming the Premier League and advancing deep in the Champions League. To achieve this, they need a fully fit Foden.

The versatility Foden offers makes City more unpredictable. When he plays on the right, opponents must spread their defense wider, creating space for Haaland. When he drops deeper, City gains an extra player to escape pressing and switch the ball to the flanks. When he pushes forward, he becomes a dangerously effective second attacking option.

If Foden maintains this level of performance, Man City will return to the form of their 2022/23 treble-winning season: a comprehensive attacking machine capable of scoring from any position. More importantly, they will step out of Haaland’s overwhelming shadow and avoid last season’s scenario of being "shut down."

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