Manchester City, the reigning Premier League, European, and world champions, recently parted ways with midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Phillips joined City from Leeds United in a £42 million ($53.5 million) deal last year but struggled to adapt to the team’s playing style and expectations. Despite being voted England’s best player the year before joining City, Phillips failed to make an impact on the pitch for the club.
Early signs that Phillips wasn’t a good fit for Manchester City emerged during pre-season training when he struggled with the intricacies of the team’s holding midfielder role. City’s coaches realized that 18-year-old Romeo Lavia, who had been sold to Southampton, was a more natural fit for the position.
Phillips faced some misfortune in his early months at City, including illness preventing him from attending his unveiling and a recurring shoulder injury that required surgery and delayed his playing time. However, these setbacks were not the main reasons for his failure to perform at City.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, expressed regret over the choice to sign Phillips and admitted that the player simply wasn’t good enough for the team. Guardiola cited Phillips’ struggle to meet the high standards of professionalism and dedication expected at the club as a key reason for his lack of success. Phillips reportedly failed to match the work ethic and commitment of his teammates, arriving late for training and not taking the necessary care of himself off the pitch.
While Guardiola acknowledged Phillips’ positive qualities as a teammate and his impact on the dressing room’s harmony, it was clear that the player’s performance on the pitch fell short of expectations. Guardiola emphasized that a footballer must maintain peak performance levels year-round and be ready to play demanding matches consistently. Phillips’ inability to adapt quickly enough and meet these standards led to his exclusion from the squad and his eventual loan move to West Ham.
City executives and Guardiola had initially hoped that Phillips could adjust to the team’s style of play, given his experience under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United. However, it became clear over time that Phillips was not making the necessary progress to fit into Guardiola’s vision for the team. While some players have struggled in their first seasons at City but earned the manager’s strong backing for their second campaign, Phillips did not receive the same level of support.
The main factors contributing to Phillips’ failure at City were his playing style and his incompatibility with Guardiola’s requirements for a holding midfielder. Guardiola praised Phillips’ ability to deliver accurate long passes, but his performance in shorter spaces and under pressure was lacking. Guardiola prefers midfielders who stay in position and are flawless when receiving the ball, which did not align with Phillips’ style of play.
City’s pursuit of other midfielders like Declan Rice and Aurelien Tchouameni further highlighted the doubts about Phillips’ suitability for the team. The club needed players who could play multiple roles and adapt to different situations, and Phillips did not meet those criteria.
Ultimately, Phillips’ loan move to West Ham presents an opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and revive his career. City, however, had early indications that Phillips was not up to the job and made the decision to part ways with him. The player now faces the challenge of proving himself at a new club and possibly earning a place in the England squad for the upcoming European Championship.
In conclusion, Kalvin Phillips’ time at Manchester City did not pan out as expected due to his struggle to meet the team’s standards and adapt to Guardiola’s requirements. While unfortunate circumstances played a role, it was ultimately clear that Phillips was not the right fit for the reigning champions.