Manchester City might have bagged three points against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, but the real story of the night was the resurgence of two of their key players.
When asked if Ilkay Gundogan had “picked up where he left off,” Pep Guardiola looked puzzled, especially since just a few days earlier, he had mentioned that Gundogan wasn’t yet at his best. Despite praising his former captain’s performance against Bratislava, Guardiola didn’t shy away from a sharp critique: “The game in Newcastle was not really good, maybe one of the worst I’ve seen in the last eight or nine years. But it happens.”
While it’s unusual for Guardiola to openly criticize someone like Gundogan, it was clear that he wanted the German to step up, particularly after a lackluster showing at St James’ Park. The two share a close bond—Gundogan being Guardiola’s first signing for City—and it’s rare to see the manager call out a player of his consistency. Typically, these kinds of conversations happen behind closed doors.
However, Gundogan wasn’t the only player Guardiola has been pushing lately. Phil Foden has also been publicly challenged to find his rhythm again. After Foden came off the bench at Newcastle, Guardiola acknowledged improvement but maintained that Foden wasn’t back to his best yet. That sentiment carried through to Slovakia, with Guardiola noting: “Yeah, he still is not his best. Step by step he’s coming back.”
Foden, making just his second start of the season against Bratislava, has had a mysterious absence from the lineup. Illness and some minor injuries have slowed him down, but after a goal and an assist in Bratislava, Foden broke his silence: “I’ve had a slow start to the season with illness and fatigue, but I’m getting back into it now and feeling more like myself. It’s nice to score again, but more importantly, I’m just enjoying my football again.”
He also shared a brief conversation with Guardiola after being substituted: “He said I played well, and I think he’s just happy to see me back out there.”
Clearly, Guardiola is pleased with how both Foden and Gundogan have responded to his public challenges. But as always, he wants more. Guardiola is known for using his press conferences tactically—if he says something, it’s deliberate. And this time, it’s no different. With key players like Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne out of action, Guardiola is banking on Foden and Gundogan to step up. Their positive response in Bratislava could be a turning point, but the manager will push for even greater heights in the coming matches.
For City, getting these two players firing on all cylinders might just be crucial as they navigate the challenging weeks ahead.
