Pep Guardiola Hails Phil Foden's Goalscoring Ability as City's Fortune Changes

Manchester City's 6-0 win over Ipswich has boosted their confidence, with manager Pep Guardiola praising Phil Foden's goalscoring ability and hoping for a strong finish to the season.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his team has regained their confidence ahead of their crucial Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. This renewed optimism follows City's resounding 6-0 victory over Ipswich, which helped to rebuild their shattered morale.

Manchester City currently sits in 22nd place in the 36-team Champions League table, with only two games remaining. PSG trails closely behind, ranking 25th with one point fewer than City. The stakes are exceptionally high, as the top 24 clubs will advance to the knockout stages, with the top eight automatically qualifying for the last 16 and teams ranked 9-24 entering a play-off.

The timing of City's dominant 6-0 win over Ipswich couldn't be better, serving as an ideal warm-up for their highly anticipated match against PSG on Wednesday. Phil Foden scored two goals, with Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and James McAtee also finding the net at Portman Road on Sunday. This convincing victory marked City's largest Premier League win since their 6-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest in 2022.

Manchester City's commanding performance allowed manager Pep Guardiola to make strategic substitutions in the second half, resting key players such as Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Mateo Kovacic, Kevin De Bruyne, and Manuel Akanji ahead of their crucial Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. Guardiola revealed that he had already begun thinking about the PSG game, saying, “After four or five nil, I had my eye on Paris.”

With their European campaign hanging in the balance, Guardiola emphasized the importance of securing points in their remaining two games. He stated, “We have two finals left, by winning two we qualify, winning one there's a big possibility.” Guardiola acknowledged that City had created their own problems, particularly in their matches against Feyenoord and in Lisbon. However, he expressed hope that his team could build on their recent performance and deliver a strong showing in Paris.

Manchester City's European journey has been marked by ups and downs this season, mirroring their turbulent Premier League campaign, where they trail leaders Liverpool by 12 points. After winning the Champions League for the first time in 2023, City suffered a quarter-final exit on penalties against Real Madrid last season. As they navigate their current challenges, Guardiola's men will seek to regain their footing and advance in the Champions League.

Manchester City's recent performances in the Champions League have been underwhelming, with a 4-1 defeat at Sporting Lisbon, a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, and a 2-0 loss at Juventus leaving them clinging to a top-24 place. This decline has been a significant shock, given City's dominance in the Premier League, with four successive titles and six in the last seven seasons. Manager Pep Guardiola has appeared drained and struggling to find solutions to his team's problems.

However, City's convincing 6-0 win over Ipswich has provided a much-needed boost, with Guardiola suggesting that his team is finally approaching peak form. Following a miserable run of one win in 13 matches in all competitions late last year, City have regained their spot in the Premier League's top four for the first time since December 1. Guardiola emphasized the importance of his team's performance against Ipswich, saying, “For a long time we didn't perform in the way we have done and the most important thing against Ipswich was obviously the result, but also the fact they realised what we were. For a long time, for many reasons we weren't.”

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Guardiola highlighted the significance of his team rediscovering their identity, stating, “The important thing is realising, 'Oh, when we do this, OK, we can compete or we can be a team enjoying what we like to do'. We are back to doing things that define this team for the last 10 years. Hopefully the players can feel it.” This renewed sense of purpose has been evident in City's recent performances, with three wins in their last four games and an unbeaten streak of six matches.

England forward Phil Foden has been instrumental in City's resurgence, scoring five goals in his last three league games. Guardiola praised Foden's abilities, saying, “His biggest quality is that around the box he has goals in his blood, his bones.” The manager also acknowledged that Foden had faced challenges earlier in the season, but has since overcome them. Guardiola expressed his hope that Foden could become a "one-club man" and finish his career at Manchester City.