EPL: Man City’s title defence over after Brentford draw, says Foden

Phil Foden admitted that Manchester City’s bid to win a fifth successive Premier League title is over after the troubled champions drew 2-2 at Brentford.

Foden scored twice to put City in control against the Bees on Tuesday, but they collapsed late in the game, with Yoane Wissa and Christian Nørgaard earning a point for the home side.

Sixth-placed City is now 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, and Foden conceded that they will have to focus on finishing in the top four rather than winning another title.

“The title? Yeah, yeah, it’s done for sure, it’s done,” the England forward said.

“We know. We’re not stupid. So we’ve got to aim for the top four, that’s the next target now, and then obviously the Champions League as well. So it’s not as if the season has gone.

“But we’ve got to be realistic, haven’t we? The performances have not been good enough to get up there.

“The top four is our aim now and then we’ll see where we can be in the other trophies. We can’t dwell on it. We’ve got to try and aim for the top four now and make things right.”

City are two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Foden said City are trying to learn the lessons of their dismal decline, which has come as a huge shock to Pep Guardiola’s team after a dynastic run of six titles in seven seasons.

“Like you said, I’ve not been in this situation before, where I’ve lost this many games and been in this situation,” said Foden, whose side return to action at struggling Ipswich on Sunday.

The 2023 treble winners also face a vital Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain on January 22, with their place in the last 16 far from assured.

“It’s a learning curve, and it’s just about how you get back to your best, not just me, but the team as well. And how we come back from this,” Foden said.

AFP