Kalvin Phillips, once a key figure at Leeds United, has been open about the frustrations he faced during his time at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. In a candid conversation on BBC Sport’s My Mate’s a Footballer podcast, Phillips reflected on how Guardiola’s remarks about his weight after the World Cup in Qatar not only shaped his time at City but also continued to influence his career trajectory long after he left the club.
Guardiola’s Comment that Sparked a Media Frenzy
Phillips joined Manchester City in the summer of 2022, but by December of the same year, Guardiola publicly criticised him for returning from the World Cup “overweight” and “not in the best condition to train and play.” It was a comment that seemingly struck a nerve for the England international, who admitted last summer that he found the remarks “a little hard to take.”
The fallout from Guardiola’s comments spread quickly. Phillips noted, “That narrative on social media just grew and grew. Every club that I’d go to, I spoke to, like the manager and the nutritionist and stuff like that, they’d always speak about weight before they’d say anything else.” The midfielder’s frustration was clear: “It peed me off a little bit. I was getting quite frustrated with it.”
Even after leaving City on loan to West Ham in January 2023, Phillips was still dealing with the weight issue. He confirmed that the first point of discussion at most clubs was no longer his skillset or potential but rather his physical condition.
Moving to Ipswich Town: A Fresh Start
After struggling for game time at City, where he made just 31 appearances in total, Phillips was loaned to Ipswich Town at the start of the 2023/24 season. He has since spoken highly of Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, saying, “The manager is an unbelievable person as well as a manager and he spoke about all the past in my career and told me he just wanted me to get to where I was at Leeds.”
Ipswich Town has provided Phillips with an opportunity to start afresh, with the focus on rebuilding his confidence and form rather than lingering on past criticisms. Phillips’ desire to return to the level he reached during his time at Leeds is evident, as he seeks to regain not only his fitness but also his standing in the game. He has already featured in four matches for Ipswich this season, which is promising for a player looking to rebuild his career.
Guardiola’s Apology: Too Little, Too Late?
What makes the situation even more intriguing is Guardiola’s later apology for the weight comment. Phillips acknowledged that Guardiola had apologised following his loan move to West Ham, admitting it was a mistake. While it’s commendable that Guardiola recognised the error of his initial comments, the damage was already done. Phillips’ public image had been tainted, and it’s clear that those remarks lingered longer than expected.
Phillips’ experience at City serves as a reminder of the power and influence managers have, especially in a world where social media can amplify a single comment. His case shows how a player’s confidence can be impacted not just by their form but also by public perceptions, which are often shaped by comments from their coaches.
How Phillips is Navigating the Pressure
At 28, Kalvin Phillips still has plenty of time to turn things around. His temporary move to Ipswich Town represents a chance to distance himself from the lingering effects of his time at City and Guardiola’s comment. Having only started two Premier League matches for Manchester City, Phillips is likely more motivated than ever to prove his doubters wrong.
He appears to be taking the situation in stride, with an optimistic outlook at Ipswich. As he explained, “I’m just trying to get back to where I was at Leeds.” The challenge for Phillips will be maintaining the form and confidence necessary to not only succeed at Ipswich but also to regain a place in the England national team, where his last cap came in November 2023.
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From a Manchester City fan’s perspective, it’s a bittersweet situation. On one hand, Guardiola’s high standards are what helped City achieve their recent successes, including domestic and European triumphs. But on the other hand, his handling of certain players, like Phillips, can sometimes seem unnecessarily harsh. For City fans, it’s easy to appreciate Guardiola’s desire for peak physical and mental fitness from every player, but perhaps his public criticism could have been avoided in this case.
Phillips arrived at City with huge potential and was expected to be a key figure in their midfield. The disappointment of seeing him struggle to make an impact is felt not only by the player but also by supporters who had high hopes. However, it’s encouraging to see that Phillips has found a new environment where he can focus on rediscovering his form.
City fans, much like Phillips, are left wondering “what if?” What if he had been given more support behind the scenes rather than public scrutiny? Perhaps we would have seen the Leeds version of Kalvin Phillips thriving at the Etihad. Regardless, his journey at Ipswich Town will be followed closely by many, and City fans will no doubt hope he can return to his best, even if it’s in different colours.
