Phil Foden criticized for a strange moment, surprising truth revealed

Phil Foden has drawn heavy criticism after cameras captured him smiling on the bench despite Manchester City being 2-0 down to Tottenham.

The broadcast camera caught the image of the 25-year-old star smiling on the bench, just minutes after Man City conceded their second goal to Tottenham. This footage quickly spread rapidly on social media, sparking intense backlash from fans. Many supporters felt Foden showed a lack of seriousness and seemed to have lost the drive to contribute to the club where he developed.

On platform X, one user angrily wrote: “Man City down 0-2, camera immediately focuses on Foden. This is his expression. No wonder he lost his starting spot, completely unprofessional.”

Another fan commented: “The team is losing 0-2 and Foden is smiling, truly shameful.”

In particular, one account harshly demanded: “Sell Foden immediately, the team doesn’t need a player like him.”

However, as the situation became clearer, things were not exactly as the initial criticism suggested. According to sources at Etihad Stadium, Foden was actually not smiling because of Man City's defeat. That smile was a reaction to mocking chants from Tottenham fans, who were loudly singing “Champions of Europe” to celebrate their Europa League title last season. Foden reportedly laughed at this sarcasm rather than showing indifference to his team’s loss.

Nevertheless, the incident put Foden in a difficult position. After a breakthrough 2023/24 season, where he won the Premier League Player of the Season award, the English midfielder’s form has clearly declined. From an indispensable key player, Foden now often sits on the bench, making way for other teammates in Pep Guardiola’s system. Against Tottenham, he was only subbed in during the second half and failed to make a significant impact, helplessly watching Man City lose 0-2 at home.

With this defeat, Man City lost the advantage after a perfect start with a 4-0 win over Wolves in the opening round. Ahead of Pep Guardiola’s squad is a tough away match at Brighton next Sunday (8 PM, August 31, Vietnam time), before entering a congested schedule. This will also be an opportunity for Foden to prove himself and regain trust from both the coach and fans.