Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Phil Foden following last night’s win against Bristol City, labelling the local lad’s current run of form as “awesome”.
City blew past Bristol with a comprehensive 3-0 win in the FA Cup on Tuesday night, Foden himself grabbing two goals against The Robins before Kevin de Bruyne slotted home the third.
The Stockport-born star hadn’t been hitting the same heights as he had prior to the World Cup but now looks to have now turned a corner in his season and his manager certainly seems to think he’s back to his best, stating he had “no doubts” Foden would return to form.
Speaking to media after the game, Pep insisted that the 22-year-old has “always had a high level” and regardless of somewhat of a dip post-Qatar 2022, “when you work like he works, football always pays off for you”.
"The impact of Phil since I arrived has been flabbergasting." 🤩
Pep Guardiola calls Foden's performances "awesome" following Man City's progression to the FA Cup quarter-final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/JH2M84AjCo
The Spaniard went on to admit that while the young winger had been struggling a bit with an injury, he never complained and continued to train and play despite his problems.
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“His career was always up, up, up, getting better, getting better”, said Pep, applauding his “dynami[sm], rhythm, work rate [and] quality” and declaring him “back for the best bit of the season.”
The 52-year-old has made no secret of his affection for the academy product, having compared him to Lionel Messi on more than one occasion and adding that he has been “flabbergasted” by his impact since arriving.
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As for Foden himself, he shed some light on his recent struggles with ITV‘s Gabriel Clarke in the post-match, revealing some details on a recurring ankle injury and describing the last few months as “one of the lowest parts of my career”.
💬 "It's been one of the lowest parts of my career… I've had discomfort in my feet and not playing as much. I love to play football and when I don't, I'm a bit frustrated." – Phil Foden
Much the relief of Blues everywhere, Foden said he now feels “much better in [his] feet… 100% and comfortable”, with his main goal being cementing his place back in the team.
The England forward simply explained, “I love to play football and when I don’t I’m a bit frustrated, that’s how it is”, but that he now believes he and his teammates are really hitting their stride and are obviously looking to pick up even more silverware.
Featured Image — ITV/Manchester City/Sky Sports News (via Twitter)
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Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
1st March 2023 
