Enzo Maresca backs Phil Foden to become one of the Premier League’s best again after his impressive return to scoring form for Manchester City

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has backed Phil Foden to rediscover the form that once made him one of the Premier League’s most outstanding players, saying it is his responsibility to help the England international return to his best.

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Foden ended a 10-month wait for a goal by scoring in City’s 3-2 Premier League victory over Ipswich last weekend before producing a stunning hat-trick in their 5-1 Champions League demolition of AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a remarkable 2023/24 campaign, scoring 27 goals and collecting the major individual awards for the Premier League’s best player.

However, Foden has struggled to reproduce that level over the past two seasons and has previously spoken about difficulties with his mental health.

Maresca, who took charge of City in June, said he had spoken to Foden several times since arriving at the club to reassure him about his importance to the team.

“Since we started, I sat down with Phil two or three times, especially at the beginning. Just to show him, I don’t know if love is the right word to use, but just to show him how important he is,” Maresca said.

The Italian manager added that he had known Foden for several years and was aware that the midfielder had endured difficult periods recently.

“I think it’s my duty to try to help Phil to be again one of the best players in England,” he said.

Maresca believes City benefit when Foden is performing at his highest level, arguing that improving individual players ultimately strengthens the entire team.

“When you have more players like Phil available, you are a better team because again it’s a matter of improving players. If you improve the players, you improve the team,” he said.

Foden’s return to form has provided another boost for Maresca, who has enjoyed an impressive start to life at the Etihad despite the enormous challenge of succeeding Pep Guardiola.

Aside from City’s 4-2 Champions League defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain, the club have made a strong start under their new manager. Maresca has also become the first manager to win his opening seven Premier League games in charge of a new club.

City’s progress, however, has been accompanied by continued uncertainty surrounding the Premier League’s financial charges against the club.

Manchester City face the prospect of severe sanctions if they are found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, with reports suggesting a significant points deduction could be imposed and potentially threaten their top-flight status.

Maresca insisted the situation had not damaged the atmosphere within the squad, pointing instead to the significant changes City made during the summer.

“In any club, when you lose important players, many important players, and you lose the manager after 10 years, it always takes time to compete again,” he said.

“But this organisation last summer changed many important players, changed the manager after 10 years and we are competing at the moment.”

City will look to maintain their strong league form when they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday.

They are expected to be boosted by the return of Erling Haaland, who has scored 12 goals in nine appearances this season but missed the AEK Athens match after suffering a foot injury against Ipswich.

Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Nico O’Reilly remain injury doubts ahead of the fixture.

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For Foden, his recent goalscoring burst offers a promising sign that the midfielder may once again be approaching the elite level that made him one of English football’s most celebrated young stars.