Kalvin Mark Phillips (Leeds, 1995), now on loan at Ipswich Town, was one of the great sensations of Euro 2021. The ‘Pirlo of Yorkshire’ did so well that Gareth Southgate kept remembering him last summer to explain England’s poor game: “We don’t have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips.”
England’s eleven against Germany in 2022, with Kalvin Phillips.EFE
His play, after two seasons in the Premier with Leeds, captivated Guardiola, who saw in him a luxury companion/replacement for Rodri. Hence, Manchester City will pay 48 million euros for his transfer in 2022.
“Kalvin is a player we have admired for a long time,” acknowledged Txiki Begiristain. “Playing for Guardiola and learning from him and his technical team is what satisfies me the most,” confessed the England international.
Removed from City due to overweight
Nothing turned out to be what it seemed. His time at the Etihad became an ordeal, above all, after Guardiola – he later apologized for his words – ‘removed’ him from the team after the 2022 World Cup: “He is not injured, he arrived overweight. No. “he arrived in condition to train and play.”
He is not injured, he arrived overweight. He did not arrive in conditions to train and play
Pep Guardiola
Something broke and nothing was ever the same again. “When Guardiola said I was overweight it was the worst moment of my career. He was right, but there are different ways of doing it. I came back a kilo and a half above my usual weight,” emphasized Kalvin Phillips, who regrets that his physique has deteriorated. become a state issue: “All the clubs talk about my weight.”
When Guardiola said I was overweight it was the worst moment of my career
Calvin Phillips
He still belongs to City
It’s curious. Since his signing, the former Leeds player has only played 31 games (914′) with City, with whom he has a contract until 2028. The truth is that he does not count for Guardiola. Hence, in January he went on loan to West Ham without much success – he barely played 320′ – and this season he ended up, also on loan, at the newly promoted Ipswich Town.
The English player, who cost 50 million, is relegated to ostracism at City.
With the ‘Tractor Boys’ he has also had ups and downs. He started as a starter, but an ankle injury kept him out of the eleven. He is confident, however, that his goal in the Cup against Bristol Rovers (3-0) will help him ‘get out of the hole’. It is, not in vain, the first he has achieved in more than a year: he had scored the last one, in the Champions League, against Red Star (2-3) on December 13, 2023.
It was a good goal to ‘open the can’ in the 18th minute. He received from Jack Clarke on the edge of the area, he adjusted it and beat Joshua Griffiths with a powerful right foot. “Someday,” was the enigmatic message he left on ‘Instagram’ to celebrate.
However, his coach, Kieran McKenna, is confident that this goal marks a turning point in his football ‘resurrection’: “He played a good game. Kalvin is fine. He is growing in confidence and pace and has shown the quality he possesses.” .
Kalvin is fine. He is growing in confidence and pace and has demonstrated the quality he possesses
Kieran McKenna
“There is always a different perception because he comes from City, but I think he has had a really solid first half of the season. He arrived without doing preseason and is doing the best he can,” insists the Ipswich coach. It may be too late for Southgate’s England… but not to get Kalvin Phillips back.
