Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips recently opened up about his difficulties in hearing his manager, Pep Guardiola, label him as “overweight” in the media last season. Guardiola had dropped Phillips for a Carabao Cup match against Liverpool in December 2022, citing his lack of fitness as the reason. Phillips, who joined Manchester City from Leeds United for £45m, expressed his hurt at the comments but stated that he worked hard to prove Guardiola wrong. Despite starting only four games in the 2022/23 season, Phillips remained determined to be a valuable member of Guardiola’s squad. A documentary titled “Kalvin Phillips: The Road to City,” which chronicles Phillips’ first season at Manchester City, is set to air on Amazon Prime on July 19.
Speculation has arisen about Phillips potentially leaving Manchester City in search of more playing time in the upcoming season. West Ham United has been heavily linked as a possible destination for the 27-year-old midfielder. However, Phillips remains committed to proving himself and becoming a more integral part of Guardiola’s team. While he acknowledges the differences between his time at Leeds, where he played every match, and his current situation, Phillips is determined to push himself and contribute more to the team. He hopes for a better season ahead.
As Manchester City looks to build on their historic Treble-winning season, transfer news is circulating around the club. Jude Bellingham reportedly turned down an offer from Manchester City, drawing inspiration from Erling Haaland’s career choices. There are also rumors of Alphonso Davies potentially moving to the Etihad Stadium. Additionally, Bernardo Silva has garnered interest from Saudi Arabia. Guardiola’s side is aiming to break their transfer record by acquiring Josko Gvardiol to strengthen their defense, following the signing of Matteo Kovacic earlier this summer.
