Maresca reveals private talks that reignited Foden's Manchester City spark

Enzo Maresca has revealed the heart-to-heart conversations he held with Phil Foden to help the midfielder get back to his best. The Manchester City player has delivered four goals in his last two games, a run that suggests he may be returning to the level that earned him the Professional Footballers' Association players' player of the year award in 2023-24.

• Maresca met privately with Foden two or three times after taking charge.
• The England international has scored four times in his last two appearances.
• Erling Haaland is available after being a substitute against AEK Athens.
• Aston Villa are the next test for the Premier League leaders.

The private conversations that brought Foden back to life

The Italian coach knew the academy product well from his time as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad. That familiarity helped him realize the player needed to feel central to the project. That is why, from the start of the season, Maresca made time to sit down with him face to face and underline his importance to the squad.

Since we started I sat down with Phil two or three times, especially at the beginning. Maybe love is not the right word to use but just to show him how important he is.

The manager admitted that Foden's performances in recent years were not at the required level. Even so, he argued that having players of that quality makes the team better and that it is his duty to push him back among the best in English football.

Attacking competition and the need to stay consistent

Foden knows he cannot afford to relax. The emergence of Rayan Cherki, whom Maresca has described as one of the best players in Europe, raises the bar in attacking areas. The season is long and consistency will be essential to keep his place in the starting eleven.

The 26-year-old has found the net regularly in recent weeks, but the coaching staff insist that a brief flash is not enough. The message is clear: he must maintain that standard throughout the campaign to establish himself as an undisputed starter.

Manchester City defend their lead at Villa Park

The Manchester side travel to Saturday's lunchtime kick-off with high morale. Seven straight Premier League wins have opened a three-point gap at the top of the table. The only competitive defeat under Maresca came against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Aston Villa represent a demanding challenge for a team eager to maintain their perfect domestic start. The home crowd will hope to stop the leaders, who travel with Haaland back in contention after sitting on the bench during the European victory over AEK Athens.

Midfield doubts before the trip to Birmingham

Maresca will need to assess the fitness of several players before confirming the lineup. Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Nico O'Reilly missed the continental fixture and their availability against Villa remains uncertain. The coach said the mood in the dressing room is positive, although the hunger for more wins has not disappeared.

The mood is good, we are happy with our start but we are still hungry for more wins.

What to expect from Aston Villa vs Manchester City

The clash at Villa Park tests the solidity of a leader who are yet to lose in the Premier League this season. Aston Villa, for their part, want to make a statement in front of their own fans and close the gap to the top of the table.

For City, a victory would confirm their status as serious title contenders and keep the pressure on their direct rivals. For Foden, it would be another chance to show that the talks with his coach have produced the expected result.