Pep Guardiola has told Phil Foden to use Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva as inspiration in an attempt to recapture his best.
Foden has agreed a new four-year contract with his boyhood club but is struggling for starts as City attempt to complete a domestic Treble.
The 25-year-old showed glimpses of improvement at Everton on Monday night, although finds a place among Thomas Tuchel’s summer World Cup squad in jeopardy.
During discussions with Foden, Guardiola has implored him to rediscover the free spirit that saw him take the Premier League by storm.
‘I use Bernardo as an example because he’s a player who represents stability in terms of mentality,’ Guardiola said.
‘Bernardo has incredible self-confidence but even then, in his third season he was not good. But he came back. Phil sometimes he has those periods. Always I said to him, “Never forget who you are. As a footballer player, never forget – your skills, your potential”. Just [get] back to who you are.
Phil Foden should use Bernardo Silva as an example, according to Pep Guardiola
‘Just recover that spirit, the pleasure to be a football player. Not because I have a contract. Not because I have duties to do. Not because I have to win that game.
‘Forget about all of that. It’s just a joy to play football like you were a little boy and were in the streets or the school or academy. And when that happens, he’ll explode again.’
Foden has 10 goals and five assists in all competitions this season but has started only two league games since mid-January.
Guardiola revealed the conversations the pair have had in a bid to see him emerge from a funk.
‘We’ve talked about it and said ‘Phil, who are you as a player? What is your biggest quality?” It’s get the ball, turn and go. And attack the box. Don’t lose that.
‘He is not a player to control the game. Your quality is to be a machine, attacking the ball with the sense of assists and goals.
‘Just feel free. Because it’s not about him being lazy, it’s not about not having a work ethic, it’s not about “I don’t care”. It’s completely the opposite. This is a guy who loves it.’
Foden has rearranged the team around him, employing super-agent Rafaela Pimenta to negotiate the new contract, with Jonny Hatt looking after other off-pitch issues.
But while there appears to be more organisation behind the scenes, Guardiola insisted that any improvement is down to the midfielder himself.
The City boss said: ‘I said that I can help you and many people can help you but just visualise that the biggest smile on your face is the joy you have playing because you’re the one who plays.’
