Phil Foden Charity Sub In EFL Cup Final Sparks Rooney Debatenewsline24

-myKhel Team

Wayne Rooney questioned Phil Foden’s late introduction in Manchester City’s EFL Cup final win over Arsenal, describing the stoppage-time change as a symbolic appearance rather than a meaningful role. City still controlled the match, winning 2-0 through Nico O’Reilly’s second-half double to collect a ninth League Cup crown and their first since beating Tottenham at Wembley Stadium in 2021.

Despite City’s dominance, Pep Guardiola waited until the 90th minute to bring Foden on, replacing Rayan Cherki in what was the team’s only substitution on 23 March 2026. The scenario highlighted how Foden’s influence has reduced, even on a day when the squad secured another domestic trophy at Wembley Stadium.

Rooney, speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, explained that the brief cameo felt uncomfortable to watch, especially for a player of Foden’s status. The former Manchester United forward contrasted the situation with that of a younger academy prospect, suggesting that such minutes would usually be seen as development time for a lesser-known name.

Rooney said: “I felt sad for him, but not sad because he is coming on in a cup final. There was a game a few days ago when he didn’t even get on the pitch. If that was Max Dowman coming on at the end, you would think good experience. But to see Phil Foden coming on in a cup final, it felt like a charity sub to get him on the pitch.”

Foden’s reduced involvement has become more noticeable since the start of the calendar year. Across all competitions in that period, Foden has started only 10 of 17 matches, accumulating 830 minutes. That pattern underlined why Rooney viewed the stoppage-time appearance as further evidence of a changing hierarchy at Manchester City.

Squad changes have also influenced Foden’s situation. The January arrival of Antoine Semenyo added extra competition in attacking areas, while Savinho and Cherki have recently been favoured ahead of the England international. Those choices left Foden watching large parts of City’s run, including the Arsenal final, from the bench until the closing moments.

Rooney expanded on those concerns when discussing Foden’s current role in the squad. Rooney said: “I don’t know what has happened, he is a top player. It feels strange he can’t get anywhere near the team. It feels like something has gone on there. I thought Foden was in good form but all of a sudden, we haven’t seen him get any minutes. Firstly, he would be pleased they won the cup, but from a selfish point of view, he would have wanted to be out there and have an influence. That will be a tough one for him.”

Foden has still posted solid attacking numbers across the full campaign, registering 10 goals and five assists in 41 appearances across all tournaments. Yet that output has not guaranteed regular starts, raising questions about how Guardiola plans to use Foden in the remainder of the season and beyond the upcoming international break.

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After the victory against Arsenal, Foden openly discussed the mental and physical challenges of a season where rhythm has been hard to find. Foden said: “Football sometimes is not straightforward, Foden said after the victory over the Gunners. There are ups and downs, and sometimes you can’t be the best version of yourself and that’s the way it is. It’s just about how you pick yourself back up. I’m still keeping my head down, trying to train as well as I can every day. Hopefully I come back after the internationals a lot sharper and hopefully I can get more minutes and be back to where I was at the start of the season.”

The contrast between City’s collective success and Foden’s personal frustration created a complex picture at Wembley Stadium. While the club celebrated a ninth EFL Cup triumph, the discussion around Foden’s late cameo, his 2026 form, increased competition from Semenyo, Savinho and Cherki, and Rooney’s strong comments ensured the forward’s situation remained a major talking point.

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