Pep Guardiola wants Phil Foden to be more proactive in how he goes about communicating with him. Guardiola is a huge admirer of the 19-year-old but believes he is overly deferential in his presence.

“He is a shy guy,” said Manchester City’s manager. “I would like him to talk more to me, but all the time I go to him and speak to him, so he still looks at me like a little bit respect, like a manager, and after two or three season it’s not necessary, but it’s normal. He is 19-years-old.”

Foden has made one appearance this season, as an 80th-minute substitute at West Ham. Guardiola was asked how he might integrate the midfielder more into the team.

“I don’t know when but that’s going to happen because now it’s coming [to the period where] we play an incredible amount of games – and, of course, I have said many times I love this guy,” he said. “I like him a lot but it’s Man City and he’s playing alongside Kevin De Bruyne, [Ilkay] Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, it’s not easy even for all of them – so the last game Rodri didn’t play, David Silva didn’t play the previous game.

“That is the reality in a team that achieved four titles last season, if you don’t have this squad you can’t achieve four titles – impossible. So, they have to fight and be patient and work and don’t complain too much because the time is coming and the moment is coming to say: ‘I am here, ready.’ They have to be prepared and that is going to happen. Everyone is going to have minutes. Now [Foden] goes to England Under-21 and is going to play.”

Guardiola welcomes players approaching him if they have been dropped. “I like it. I will argue,” he said. “Sometimes the reason [I give] is because I preferred your mate – I preferred the other one, with this argument he cannot say anything. They don’t complain [my players], they are incredible guys. They are not happy when they don’t play. But always I say around the corner is another one and maybe you have the chance and that is when it is the moment you have to talk.”