Pep Guardiola has insisted Phil Foden can play in central midfield despite Gareth Southgate pointing out this week that the Manchester City manager never starts him in that role.
Foden started on the right flank for England in midweek against Scotland before cutting inside, which is how he has been deployed by Guardiola. But the City manager believes his player can play across the midfield if given time to learn the position.
“I have a great relationship with Gareth,’ Guardiola said. ‘It looks like I could disagree with him but I agree with him in that when you play outside it is different. But he knows that I know that Phil can play in all roles.
“As Gareth has said, in the pockets there are other responsibilities and you have to be so smart without the ball to read every minute. But Phil can play in all five positions up front.
“I saw the friendly where he started on the right and moved inside. At the end, it’s not a big issue. When you play high up the pitch, the defensive responsibility is a little bit less. Phil will grow up because if he wants to be one of the best he has the mentality to improve.”
Speaking ahead of the Scotland game, Southgate questioned playing Foden in a central role as Guardiola does not play him there for his club.
“He doesn’t for his club,” Southgate said. “So presumably there is a reason for that. It depends on the level of the game, really.
“You’d have to speak to Pep [Guardiola], who is the best coach in the world, who plays him from wide.”
Guardiola is returning from a two-match absence after back surgery and will be in the dugout at the London Stadium for the clash against West Ham on Saturday. He has injuries to Mateo Kovacic and John Stones, limiting his options in central midfield with a Champions League clash against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday. Jack Grealish is also sidelined.
It will be the first match since Kyle Walker’s new two-year extension was announced, taking the England defender to 2026. Guardiola revealed that Walker’s team-mates at City demanded him to stay at the club and resist interest from Bayern Munich.
“He’s a player where his teammates demanded he could not leave. At the end he decided to stay and he is really very important for us,” he said. “His mind is there and he has genetics like few players I have seen with all the conditions. As much as he enjoys his life, it will not be a problem.
“I know Kyle for seven years and we know each other without a doubt. When Kyle didn’t play sometimes, it was for tactical reasons rather than bad behaviour. He was an important figure and he talked a lot. Kyle has been really important in our success.”
