Enzo Maresca has shared insights into his candid discussions with Phil Foden, aimed at revitalizing the midfielder's performance. After facing challenges over the past two years, Foden has recently shone, netting four goals in his last two games, raising hopes of a return to the form that earned him the Professional Footballers’ Association players’ player of the year award in 2023-24.

As Manchester City prepares to face Aston Villa this Saturday, Maresca emphasized Foden's significance to the team, stating, "Since we started I sat down with Phil two or three times, especially at the beginning. Maybe love is not the right word to use but just to show him how important he is."

Maresca, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, highlighted Foden's potential, noting that despite past struggles, his presence enhances the team's overall performance. He remarked, "If you improve the players you improve the team, so for me it’s my duty to try to help Phil to be again one of the best players in England. But it’s not just about one game – the season is very long."

Foden, now 26, faces stiff competition for his position, especially from Rayan Cherki, whom Maresca considers "one of the best players in Europe."

Under Maresca, City has maintained an impressive record, suffering only one competitive defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and boasting seven straight Premier League wins, placing them three points clear at the top. The coach is also monitoring the availability of Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, and Nico O’Reilly, who missed the match against AEK Athens. "The mood is good, we are happy with our start but we are still hungry for more wins," Maresca concluded.