Maresca’s phone outreach seeks to spark Foden’s comeback

In a quiet Etihad office, Enzo Maresca stared at his phone as the news of Phil Foden’s England World Cup omission lingered. Determined to turn the 26‑year‑old’s personal disappointment into a catalyst for resurgence, he dialed the midfielder without delay.

Maresca confirmed he personally called Foden after the snub, telling the midfielder, “I told Phil it’s my duty to try to help him back.” The new Manchester City head coach said the call was meant to offer encouragement and outline a revival plan.

He also rang Jeremy Doku to congratulate the Belgian on becoming a dad during the tournament. “I spoke with the ones that contacted me, and the only two players I contacted has been Jeremy – because he became a dad when he was at the World Cup – and the other one has been Phil when he was left out of the squad, just to have a chat with him,” Maresca said.

Doku is currently on holiday after representing Belgium at the FIFA World Cup in North America, having enjoyed his best season in a Manchester City shirt during Pep Guardiola’s final term as Blues manager. The Belgian’s holiday follows his World Cup participation.

Foden, omitted by England manager Thomas Tuchel for the hallmark tournament across the Atlantic, signed a new long‑term deal with his boyhood club last week, a contract that runs until 2030.

Maresca stressed his aim to restore Foden’s enjoyment of football, stating, “First of all for him, because he needs to enjoy football and in general. Second, because I know how good is Phil.” He recalled the midfielder’s previous highs, noting his fantastic form in the Treble‑winning season and a Premier League Player of the Season award the following year.

The coach’s hands‑on approach also reaches other squad members such as Elliot Anderson, Rodri and those returning from the World Cup, seeking to translate personal engagement into collective performance. This aligns with director of football Hugo Viana’s vision for a proactive, human‑centred era at Man City.