Manchester City have suffered a major drop-off in form in the current season, and after winning four Premier League titles in a row they currently sit 22 points adrift of leaders Liverpool
Phil Foden has admitted Manchester City’s difficult season has taught him not to take success for granted.
City failed to reach the Champions League last-16 and have failed in their bid to win a record-extending fifth straight Premier League title, with Pep Guardiola’s side currently fifth.
The Blues face a battle to make the Champions League for a 15th consecutive season, even though fifth place is almost certain to qualify, through the Premier League’s UEFA coefficient ranking.
Nine league defeats have left City 22 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, with only a Champions League spot and the FA Cup left to play for this season, followed by the Club World Cup in June.
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England star Foden, 24, has won six league Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and four League Cups in an unprecedented era of success for City.
Against that backdrop, Foden said this troubled season had brought a new appreciation of what he has achieved in his career and not to view such success as the norm.
“One hundred per cent,” said Foden. “If I ever win anything again, I’m going to make sure I enjoy it even more, because it shows how quickly things can change.
“What we were doing in the past isn’t normal, so it shows the level of football which was set and how challenging it is to do what we did.
“People have seasons like this and it’s about how you come back. You can’t always be at the top and this happens, it’s a part of football. There are going to be ups and downs. So I’m definitely going to enjoy it if I win more things in the future.”
Reflecting on the targets left for this season, Foden said an FA Cup win and securing a Champions League place would represent a decent campaign, given City’s difficulties.
“I feel if we can come up with the FA Cup and finish in the top four, it will save a poor season in my eyes,” said Foden.
“It’s one of our main targets now, to make sure we’re playing in the Champions League next season. It’s in our hands if we win our games, so we’ve got to believe in what we can do and believe we can do it.
“It’ll be a real positive and maybe we’ll go into next season with a bit more confidence. It wasn’t our aim to be here at the start of the season, but that’s football sometimes, you never know what’s around the corner.
“There are always teams improving and challenging us and we’ve had a bit of a slip this season, but we can still finish it off strong and save the season if you like.”
Phil Foden was speaking at a session of a new McDonald’s Fun Football partnership with UK Deaf Sport, which offers hearing impairment sessions across England. Find your nearest session at mcdonalds.co.uk/football
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