Chelsea were crowned the inaugural champions of the new edition of the FIFA Club World Cup this week.
The Blues defeated Paris Saint-Germain with a surprise 3-0 scoreline on Sunday night, which left Man City fans admitting Cole Palmer was right to join Chelsea, as the switch to Stamford Bridge has brought out the best in the English star.
City’s campaign in the United States did not go to plan this summer, but their Round of 16 exit has allowed players such as Rodri to get extra rest ahead of the 2025/26 season getting underway next month.
As a result, not many of Pep Guardiola’s players are in contention for positions in pundits’ Teams of the Tournament, although there was a shout for one on The Rest Is Football, but Alan Shearer would opt for a Chelsea duo over the City man.
Phil Foden in action for Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Alan Shearer picks Moises Caicedo over Phil Foden
The FIFA Club World Cup was a positive experience for Phil Foden this summer as the 25-year-old looked much happier in America than he did throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
That showed on the pitch as the Englishman impressed immediately in Man City’s first match against Wydad AC, and despite some other solid displays, Shearer has opted to leave the English star out of his Team of the Tournament for the Club World Cup.
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“Fabian Ruiz, Caicedo, and Fernandez,” the Newcastle legend stated when asked on The Rest Is Football to pick his midfield three, while both Gary Lineker and Alex Aljoe included the Man City man as part of their selections.
Given the performances of Fernandez and especially Caicedo, Shearer’s picks are justified, as the Blues duo were fantastic throughout the West London club’s push for the title.
As for Foden, the midfielder needs to use the Club World Cup to give himself a shot of confidence ahead of the new season, as if Guardiola can get the Englishman back to his best, that will be a huge weapon for City to have in their arsenal throughout the 25/26 campaign.
Where Phil Foden fits into Man City’s 25/26 plans
Rayan Cherki plans on playing as a number 10 at Man City this season; therefore, the French star will be direct competition for Foden at the Etihad Stadium.
In an ideal world, Guardiola is likely to opt for the former Lyon man in the number ten, with Foden coming in from the right.
However, if the English star repeats performances similar to last season, it won’t be long before others are given a chance by the Spaniard.
The 25/26 campaign is a big one for Foden for many reasons. The 25-year-old will want to be part of the England squad for next summer’s World Cup, the midfielder will be seeking a new City contract soon, and his performances will determine how the rest of English football views him from now on.