Thomas Tuchel hints Phil Foden is still affected by vile Man Utd chants about his mum as he explains England absence
THOMAS TUCHEL has revealed why he left Phil Foden out of the latest England squad.
The Manchester City ace was a surprise omission from the latest Three Lions announcement on Friday morning.
Tuchel has claimed that “injury and performance” factors are behind his absence from the upcoming international break.
But he also appeared to suggest that Foden remains affected by the offensive chants he was subjected to about his mum during the Manchester Derby in April.
Tuchel told talkSPORT: “It’s a little bit different, because Phil had difficult times in his last camp. I loved Phil as a person in the camp, he was fantastic.
“I love his talent and the ability that he showed in training with us, simply outstanding. There’s no doubt about it.
“He struggled even before last camp to show it in the club, he struggled with in camp to feel the freedom and the excitement that is part of his game.
“Things were not so easy for him, they became a bit more complicated after the Manchester derby.
“On a personal level what happened in the Manchester derby with the fans, and then also on a physical level that he’s still suffering from ankle problems, cannot get rid of it.
“So putting all in the mix, we thought it’s better. It’s the moment now for Phil to take a breath, to not be with us, which was also very hard for because I admire him a lot, and I like him a lot.
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“But we thought it’s better he took care of his ankle, fully pain free, and no reason for holding back and being fit for the Club World Cup.
“So it was a mix between injury and performance wise.”
Foden was on the receiving end of vile chants about his mum during the 0-0 draw between Manchester United and Man City at Old Trafford earlier this year.
City boss Pep Guardiola condemned the shocking treatment of the midfielder at full-time, stating: “It was a lack of class. We are so exposed in football — managers, owners and players especially.
“I don’t understand the mind of the people involving the mum of Phil.
“It’s a lack of integrity, class, and they should be ashamed.”
Foden has experienced a drop in form this season and recently put it down to mental burnout and injury problems.
He said: “It’s been a frustrating season for me. I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. It’s one of them, sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football.
“This season I’ve struggled a little bit. Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right and get back where I left off the season before, because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.
“The club have been so supportive, I can’t thank them enough. I know if everything was okay, I’d definitely be better on the field.
“Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on.
“Obviously it’s a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner. It’s something we have to speak about with the club and national team, to see if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100 percent back how I want it.
“I just don’t know at the moment, it’s a conversation to be had and we’ll see what happens.
“I just need a few weeks off, without playing football, and obviously I can’t get it at the moment. It’s a bit frustrating to play with niggles like this.
“A lot of people don’t know what football players have to go through, and play with. I’ve had a lot of ankle pain and playing with it in the last couple of months. Some people don’t see what we go through.”
Alongside Foden, the likes of Harry Maguire and Jarrod Bowen have missed out on a place in the squad.
Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford are unavailable due to injury, with Adam Wharton dropping down to the Under-21s.