Phil Foden, Manchester City’s midfield maestro, has disclosed the good-humoured teasing he gets from teammates over his love for fishing.
The 24-year-old, who was introduced to angling in his youth by his father, Phil Snr, often shares how fishing provides a tranquil escape from the high pressures of being a pivotal player for City.
Amidst a tough season, with City trailing behind Liverpool by 16 points in fourth place, Foden seeks peace in his age-old hobby. Following struggles post Euro 2024, Foden’s performance picked up significantly after scoring six goals in January—a turnaround he attributes to the respite fishing affords him.
Discussing with Ben Foster, former Manchester United stopper turned Amazon Prime Video pundit, Foden opened up about why this pastime is so beneficial for him, despite his City peers not quite grasping the appeal: “I just love the peace and quiet. There’s something about it and it’s my get away.
“After a bad game, I like to go fishing, switch my phone off and not read too much. Then when I go back and train, it’s just like a reset.”
While none of his team-mates share his passion for fishing, Foden mentioned that John Stones has shown some interest in the hobby. “None of them (team-mates) have been fishing with me, but I think John (Stones) is into it a little bit. I think it’s really important to have something, whatever it is, to switch off. I’ve got fishing. Some of them do (give me banter), but they don’t understand.”
Earlier in the season, Foden’s form experienced a noticeable decline compared to his remarkable displays for City the previous year, which resulted in numerous personal accolades and a fourth consecutive Premier League title. However, his situation soon reversed, and he found it challenging to enjoy the game.
Having featured in over 50 games for City and participating in all seven of England’s matches on the way to the Euro 2024 final in July, Foden faced criticism for failing to score or contribute assists for the national team, despite being played out of position under Gareth Southgate’s management.
Foden discussed that challenging period with Foster, stating: “I definitely had burnout after all the games I played because I’m a player who gives a hundred per cent in training every day. Add all the travelling on as well, and it’s just an overload. You feel absolutely knackered and feel like your brain’s not working.”
Reflecting on his recent improvement in form, Foden attributed it to feeling better physically and mentally. “It’s coming from feeling better in my body and my mind. I’m happy now that I’ve got back to my level from last year a bit in terms of scoring goals in the last month.”
This article originally appeared on Manchester Evening News
