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Topics: Manchester City, Kalvin Phillips, West Ham United, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours
Alex Brotherton
Topics: Manchester City, Kalvin Phillips, West Ham United, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours
Kalvin Phillips has been told he did something completely 'unforgivable' during his disastrous 18-month spell at Manchester City.
Phillips joined Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions in a £42 million move from Leeds United in July 2022, but he never found his feet at the Etihad Stadium.
After West Ham rescued Phillips last month by taking him on loan until the end of the season, the midfielder gave an interview in which he described his time at Man City as "stressful" and admitted that he felt "useless" at the club.
The 28-year-old also admitted that he and his family did not appreciate City boss Guardiola publicly claiming Phillips returned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar overweight, and that his manager's words delivered a blow to his confidence.
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Now, in a rare defence of City and Guardiola, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has said the Spanish coach was right to publicly call out his player.
"If he’s overweight, he’s overweight. It’s unprofessional," Sutton said on the Daily Mail's It's All kicking Off podcast.
"It’s unforgivable really for a player to be overweight. You know, he signed a contract with Manchester City.
"I just don’t quite understand. Players can have bad times at clubs. And we talk about my time at Chelsea every time we come on the pod in some way, shape, or form. That can happen.
"But you’ve got to give yourself the best possible chance. And I don’t think he’s done that. If he’s overweight, he’s overweight.
"And Pep [Guardiola] calling him out, he’s called him out for a reason. You’re a professional athlete. He’s being paid tens of thousands of pounds a week."
Phillips made just six starts in 18 months at City, but fresh start at West Ham hasn't gotten off to the best start.
The midfielder dropped a clanger with his very first touch for the Hammers when his loose touch allowed Dominic Solanke to put Bournemouth ahead at the London Stadium on February 1.
He started West Ham's next game on the bench, but after coming on he was at fault for Manchester United's third goal in a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
With his City contract valid until 2028, Phillips future is unclear.