Cesc Fabregas and Stuart Pearce Agree on Phil Foden’s Need for Greater Responsibility After Euros Performance

Former England international Stuart Pearce echoes Cesc Fabregas’s sentiments that Phil Foden must take more responsibility for his performances with the national team.

Foden had a subdued performance as England overcame Serbia in their opening Group C match at Euro 2024. This follows a stellar season with Manchester City, during which the Premier League named him Player of the Season.

BBC pundit Micah Richards suggested that Foden’s difficulties stemmed from playing on the left. However, former Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas was less forgiving.

Fabregas remarked, “I love that you try to defend him, seriously, I get your point totally. But a player of this class, of this level, of this talent, for me sometimes. He doesn’t even need to be told by the coach what he needs to do. He needs to want it more than the rest and for me today. It showed that Jude is a little bit above him in this regard.”

Pearce, the former England under-21 boss, agrees with Fabregas. He points out that Jude Bellingham has taken ownership in a central attacking role. Leaving Foden needing to assert his influence.

Pearce told Footy Accumulators, “I would tend to agree with Cesc Fabregas on Phil Foden needing to take responsibility. Players have to take responsibility for their own performance. They have the freedom to refuse rides or accept passengers.

“You’re responsible for your own performance in many ways, unless there’s something really, really special that the manager wants you to do. But I don’t know too many managers that ask players to do stuff that is detrimental to the players that they’ve just picked. It’s counterproductive in many ways.

“Phil Foden tucks in quite a way as well, so on occasion we’ve got two number tens as such. He gravitates to an area of the pitch that he is quite fond of, but at the moment Jude Bellingham is your first choice on the team sheet in that position.”

Both Fabregas and Pearce emphasize that Foden needs to take greater personal responsibility and initiative on the pitch to reach his full potential with the England team.