Manchester City’s squad returned to training this week ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season getting underway in two weeks.
Preparations for the upcoming campaign have been different to most years due to Man City’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, but Frank Leboeuf believes Rodri is one star that will benefit from the extra rest following the ACL injury he suffered last season.
Man City have only one pre-season scheduled ahead of their Premier League opener against Wolves, which will take place on 9 August against Palermo; therefore, there are not a lot of opportunities for players to impress Pep Guardiola.
This places even more importance on training, and one player has been standing out to Kolo Toure and the rest of the Manchester club’s coaching staff.
Pep Guardiola sitting with Pep Lijnders and Kolo Toure.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Phil Foden has been impressing in Man City training
It was reported during the FIFA Club World Cup that Phil Foden looked much happier than in previous months, as last season was a struggle for the English star, especially when his poor campaign came off the back of a term that saw him crowned the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Man City fans were excited by how Foden looked during training footage that was released last week, ahead of the 25-year-old returning for pre-season with the rest of his teammates, and it seems that the positivity around the midfielder has continued this week.
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Footage has been released of training this week by Man City, and a clip shows Foden aggressively counter-pressing after his team lost the ball.
Toure was impressed by Foden’s effort to get the ball back as the City coach could be heard praising the 25-year-old.
“Well done, well done Phil. Good counter-pressing. Well done. Fantastic work,” the Ivorian shouted at the Man City star.
Later on in the video, Pepijn Lijnders was also heard praising Foden after the Englishman intercepted a pass.
These are all good signs that the Man City academy graduate is back to his best, and if he is, that should be a worry for the rest of the Premier League.
Phil Foden in action for Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
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How Phil Foden performed at the FIFA Club World Cup
The Club World Cup is all anyone has to go by regarding whether Foden is back to his best, and it is fair to say the Man City star looked much better in the United States than he did in the months prior.
The 25-year-old produced three goals and one assist across the four matches he featured, which was done within 149 minutes of action.
The arrival of Rayan Cherki has provided more competition for Foden, but it looks like the versatile midfielder is embracing the challenge.
Everyone is expecting the England international to get back to his best with the motivation of winning back the Premier League and being included in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 World Cup driving him; however, only time will tell if the 25-year-old can achieve this.