Pep Guardiola reveals his two favorite midfielders in the lineup

At the press conference before the match against AFC Bournemouth in the 10th round of the 2025/26 Premier League, Man City's head coach Pep Guardiola stated that he greatly favors Ryan Cherki and Phil Foden, confirming his willingness to deploy them if the opportunity arises.

In the 2025/26 season, Man City no longer holds the dominant position as in previous years. In the Premier League, they currently sit 5th after 9 rounds, 6 points behind the leader. The burden of scoring rests entirely on Erling Haaland, as no other Man City player has scored more than one goal besides him. The Citizens' midfield is currently criticized by experts for lacking creativity and no longer being self-sufficient as before.

Despite the midfielders' underwhelming performances, head coach Pep Guardiola remains confident in his players, especially Ryan Cherki and Phil Foden. At the press conference before the AFC Bournemouth match in round 10 of the 2025/26 Premier League, Pep revealed that whenever possible, he always includes Cherki and Foden together in the starting lineup:

“Of course, playing Cherki and Foden together is genuinely my choice, just like with Marmoush and Haaland. Having multiple options is good, but you must understand what is necessary to compete in the Premier League.

Some opponents we face are very strong physically, especially in the first half against Aston Villa (round 9 of the 2025/26 Premier League), which we clearly witnessed. We weren’t resilient enough to withstand it yet, but we will learn. I appreciate the efforts of Foden and Cherki.”

For Guardiola, finding the balance between creativity and maintaining defensive solidity in play is crucial. He does not want to restrict players into a rigid mold but sets minimum organizational requirements so the team does not become vulnerable.

“I won’t ask players to change their playing style, but there is a certain discipline needed to keep the team stable, otherwise problems arise. When many players require creative freedom, as I said after the match against Aston Villa, that is the challenge we must solve ourselves. And we will find the answer.”

Notably, the upcoming match against AFC Bournemouth could mark Phil Foden’s 200th Premier League appearance, a significant milestone for the player born in 2000. Pep Guardiola expressed his pride when speaking about the player he has nurtured since his early days in the first team.

“It is an honor for me to witness Foden reaching such matches. The impact he has had on Man City is incredible. This milestone is especially meaningful given his age.”

When asked if Foden deserves a recall to the England national team, Pep remained calm and respectful of the head coach’s decision.

“That’s Thomas Tuchel’s decision (current England head coach). He must perform well every day because the competition for that position is fierce, with English players in his role performing excellently. He just needs to show his best form, and Tuchel will make the decision that benefits the team most.”

Besides Foden and Cherki, Pep Guardiola also mentioned another young player, Oscar Bobb, who started the season promisingly before suffering an injury. The Spanish coach offered encouraging words to this player:

“Considering he missed a long time last season due to a serious injury, I think Bobb has started this season quite well. He played two or three matches initially but then couldn’t continue. He needs to believe in himself, and when that confidence is strong enough, he will take another step forward in his career.”

Clearly, although Manchester City is experimenting with various attacking options, Pep Guardiola maintains faith in the youth. For Foden, Cherki, or Bobb, the future of The Citizens lies not only in trophies but also in how they are developed under a coach who values creativity and identity.

For now, Man City must overcome AFC Bournemouth at their home ground, Etihad Stadium. This is a very tough opponent currently ranked 2nd in the Premier League standings. Man City desperately needs points to continue their title ambitions or at least secure a top-4 position.