Guardiola Will Include Foden in the Club World Cup Despite Needed Rest
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed his plans to include Phil Foden in the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, although he acknowledges the need for a “rest” period for the midfielder.
Foden, recognized as the best player in the Premier League a year ago, has experienced ups and downs in his performance this season. He will miss England’s matches against Andorra and Senegal in June, after requesting not to be included in the team.
Guardiola has mentioned that the 24-year-old player, who is dealing with an ankle injury, needs to rest. However, the City coach has assured that Foden is on his way to being part of the group that will travel to the United States for the Club World Cup.
In principle, he will come to America. We want to help him, that is the most important thing. He needs rest and that will happen now after Sunday. Step by step, he will return, that is what we want. I just want, want, want to help him. I don’t care about his performance on the field, I want him to feel good and then the rest will come easily.
Pep Guardiola
Guardiola also revealed that the club will hold talks with the Football Association (FA) before deciding on the availability of James McAtee and Rico Lewis for the Club World Cup.
England’s Under-21 team begins its European Championship campaign against the Czech Republic on June 12. City is scheduled to fly to Florida for its Club World Cup base camp on the same day, before beginning the tournament with a match against Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18.
They have to talk. I joke and I’m a very funny guy, so I don’t know who is going to pay the salary in these months, if the national teams or the club, so if they decide they are going to go to the under-21s, I don’t know who will pay for it. They are going to decide, I would say, the players with the club. They will talk to the sporting director and they will have to decide what they want to do.
Pep Guardiola
Meanwhile, Guardiola has confirmed that Kyle Walker will not rejoin the team for the Club World Cup.
