Manchester City bounced back emphatically from last week's defeat to PSG with a resounding 5-1 Champions League win over AEK Athens. The spotlight at the Etihad belonged to Phil Foden, whose hat-trick display was hailed by manager Enzo Maresca as a sign that the England midfielder's long slump may be nearing its end.
Foden had fallen out of the starting line-up under predecessor Pep Guardiola and went 10 months without a goal before scoring in Saturday's Premier League win over Ipswich. This season has also brought upheaval for the 26-year-old, including a red card in the victory over Manchester United and a battle for a starting place under Maresca. Foden himself has acknowledged struggles with his mental health.
Against AEK Athens, City were without Erling Haaland, who was restricted to the bench through injury, while new signing Antoine Semenyo faces eight weeks out. That opened the door for Foden, and he seized the opportunity in full.
The midfielder began on the left flank before being pushed into the "false nine" role at the heart of City's attack. He scored the side's fifth goal past goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli to complete his hat-trick on a memorable night.
Maresca said afterwards: "It's good news for me because you know he is playing well, and this is what we want for many reasons. First of all, because he is a top player and we know that. I'm happy for him, but also happy for the team because we have another weapon to use."
The performance is likely to catch the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who is preparing to name his squad for November's Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain. Foden was once regarded as one of the brightest talents in English football, but he was left out of the World Cup squad earlier this year — a clear sign of his dip in form.
Before facing AEK, Foden had ended a Champions League scoring drought stretching back to November 2025. Now, to win back the trust of both Maresca and Tuchel, he will need to produce nights like this far more regularly.
