Pep Guardiola receives position change demands from Manchester City duo in public interview

Manchester City academy graduates Phil Foden and Rico Lewis have sent a public message to their manager over their consistency in one position for the first-team.

The duo have been integral to Manchester City’s successes over the past year, offering crucial contributions towards both the ongoing campaign and the second-half of the Treble-winning 2022/23 season.

Foden has largely been seen by Pep Guardiola as a wide-forward up until Kevin De Bruyne’s injury earlier this season, opening up an opportunity for the England international to excel in a central attacking midfield role and arguably his natural position.

As for Rico Lewis, the breakthrough teenager – who made his England international debut last Autumn – has been utilised in a multitude of roles from full-back, to defensive midfield, and into attacking midfield during the UEFA Champions League group stages this season.

However, both players are now seeking consistency in their respective favoured roles and hope that their starring performances in attacking midfield and deeper midfield positions will convince Pep Guardiola that that is where they deserve to be moving forward.

Speaking during an interview with The National while on Manchester City’s warm weather training camp in Abu Dhabi, Phil Foden has indicated that consistency in the midfield role will be all down to him impressing Pep Guardiola in training.

“Just working hard on the training field, I think when the manager sees you’re working hard and performing in training you get your reward,” Foden explained. “He’s trusting me now in the midfield and I’m really delighted with it and hopefully I can continue to play there.”

Similarly, Rico Lewis has also sent a message to his manager over operating more in midfield, having come through Manchester City’s academy ranks and into the first-team as a full-back, but appreciates the importance of being versatile.

“Here at City, it’s probably better to be more versatile because of the formations we play and the different positions I can play in and for me at the moment I can get more minutes on the pitch playing in different positions,” said Lewis.

“But at some point I hope to settle into a position and I do like playing midfield the most.”

Manchester City have returned from Abu Dhabi this week and will now finalise preparations for an FA Cup fourth round tie against Tottenham at their City Football Academy training centre before travelling to London on Thursday night.