Fans think they know why Phil Foden was laughing after Man City went 2-0 down against Spurs
Phil Foden was spotted chuckling on the Manchester City bench just moments after Tottenham Hotspur stunned the Etihad crowd by making it 2-0 on Saturday afternoon – and fans believe they’ve figured out the reason behind his reaction.
It was a nightmare first half for Pep Guardiola’s side, who found themselves trailing to goals from Brennan Johnson and summer recruit João Palhinha. Spurs, full of confidence and intent, took advantage of City’s sluggish start to silence the home supporters and grab control of the contest.
Much of the pre-match focus had been on the goalkeeper situation, with Guardiola making the bold decision to hand new £27 million signing James Trafford his first Premier League start for City. The 22-year-old, who joined from Burnley earlier in the summer, was preferred to established No.1 Ederson. Unfortunately, Trafford endured a difficult half, committing a costly mistake that directly preceded Palhinha’s strike which doubled Tottenham’s advantage just before the break.
As TV cameras panned to the City substitutes’ bench in the immediate aftermath, most of Guardiola’s squad – including Jeremy Doku, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Matheus Nunes – looked visibly frustrated and subdued. But in stark contrast, Phil Foden could be seen bursting into laughter, a reaction that quickly went viral across social media.
Supporters were quick to debate the reason behind Foden’s amusement. Many pointed out that, at the very moment Spurs went two goals up, the travelling supporters began belting out a cheeky chant of: “Champions of Europe, we know what we are.”
Given that Tottenham have famously never won the Champions League – unlike City, who lifted the trophy for the first time just over a year ago – fans believe Foden was laughing at the irony of the chant rather than the situation unfolding on the pitch.
One fan posted: “Foden just laughing at them for singing ‘Champions of Europe’,” while another wrote: “He couldn’t believe his ears when he heard Spurs singing that.” A third supporter added: “So why is Foden laughing at the chant? Are we missing something here?”
The incident added a lighthearted subplot to what was otherwise a disappointing half for the reigning Premier League champions. For Foden personally, it also drew attention back to his own journey, with the England international enduring an inconsistent campaign last season.
Guardiola, however, has remained firmly supportive of his academy graduate, reminding everyone of Foden’s quality and importance. Speaking ahead of the Spurs clash, the City boss praised his midfielder but also urged him to rediscover his consistency.
“Phil is a top-class, extraordinary player,” Guardiola said. “The last time we won the Premier League, he was massively important – in fact, he was the best player in the league that season. I’ve always tried to convince him he can get even better, that he can read situations more clearly. But I’ve never doubted his quality. More than anything, I just want him to enjoy playing football and be happy again. He’s something unique.”
Reflecting on Foden’s dip in form, Guardiola continued: “Last season was really the first time after six or seven incredible years where his level dropped a little bit. That happens – every player has a season where they’re not quite themselves. But if Phil can take the lesson from that, it will make him even stronger. He has been incredibly consistent for many years, and we are looking to see that again.”
For now, City fans may not have appreciated seeing one of their stars laughing in the middle of a poor half, but the general feeling is that Foden’s amusement was directed at Tottenham’s ironic chant rather than his own team’s struggles. And with Guardiola backing him to return to his brilliant best, the England international could yet have the last laugh before the season is out.