'Not going to lie' - Phil Foden's brutal admission with pointed message to Man City and England boss

Phil Foden insists England players should shoulder the blame for their underwhelming Euro 2024 performances rather than Gareth Southgate - but he did send a pointed message to his international manager over his role in the Three Lions team.

Foden arrived at Euro 2024 as the Premier League Player of the Season following a sensational campaign with Manchester City, where he hit his best form playing centrally at number ten in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. Southgate was hoping for Foden to replicate his form off the wing, where he successfully drifted inside to central areas, but that is so far yet to reap rewards.

So while Foden has told his senior teammates to step up, and is aiming to improve personally as well, he also believes he is better when playing at No.10 for club and country.

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"I've been a bit frustrated, I'm not going to lie," he said ahead of England's quarter final vs Manuel Akanji's Switzerland. "I want to try and score, try and do better things for England and at times it's not worked out but it's about keeping a good mentality.

"I've not been the best player in the Premier League to come here and not show it. I feel like every game I'm moving little steps forward and hopefully I can put in good performances for England, that's always been my aim.

“The players have got to take some of the blame,” said Foden. "There has to be some leaders to get together and find out a solution to why it is not working.

"There is only so much the manager can do. He sets you up in a system and tells you how to press. If it is not going like that, you have to [work it out].”

“I feel sorry for Gareth. In training, he has been telling us to press and be high up on the pitch and I feel like sometimes, it has to come from the players. We have to be leaders. In games we could have got together a little bit more and worked out a solution."

Foden has been clear all season over his desires to play as the sole No.10 at City, but was shifted back out wide when De Bruyne returned. For England his status is similar, as he plays left-wing to accommodate Jude Bellingham.

The 24-year-old spoke of his belief that his link-up with Bellingham will improve, but also told Southgate that he wants to be the main man in the middle. It is a message that is probably aimed at Pep Guardiola, too.

"I have shown this season for City that I have moved more centrally and the goals have gone up and I have influenced more games," he said. "I have always been honest about my position and I have always seen myself as playing midfield."

With England's tournament saved by a 95th-minute Bellingham equaliser in the last 16, Foden had the best view in the house as he had just been substituted and was walking behind the goal as the ball hit the back of the net. Joking over what thinking about at the time, Foden said his newborn baby back home was going through his mind.

"I thought, 'I'm 30 seconds away from doing baby feeds at home'," he told reporters.