Phil Foden has reached out to Manchester City fans after the team’s underwhelming 1-1 draw against Everton on Boxing Day. The England international expressed his gratitude to supporters who stood by the club through a turbulent 2024, a year that ended with City struggling in seventh place in the Premier League.
The Boxing Day fixture at the Etihad saw City drop more points in their chase for a Champions League spot. Bernardo Silva gave Pep Guardiola’s men an early lead in the 14th minute with a deflected shot, but Everton struck back through Iliman Ndaiye’s spectacular half-volley just after the half-hour mark.
Erling Haaland had a golden chance to restore the lead from the penalty spot, but his tame effort was saved by Jordan Pickford, summing up City’s struggles in front of goal. The result extends their miserable run to just one win in their last nine league games, marking the worst form under Guardiola since his arrival in 2016.
Phil Foden, who played the full 90 minutes, has endured a challenging season by his own high standards. The 24-year-old, last season’s Premier League Player of the Season, has scored only four goals and provided two assists in 20 appearances across all competitions this term.
After the game, Foden shared a message on Instagram, thanking fans for their unwavering support throughout a difficult year. “Thank you for your support at the Etihad throughout 2024,” he wrote.
City now face mounting pressure as they sit five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal in the race for Champions League qualification.
With a trip to Leicester on Sunday, led by Ruud van Nistelrooy, and a New Year’s Day clash against West Ham, Guardiola’s side desperately need a fresh start in 2025 to revive their fortunes.
