Calvin Phillips, Manchester City | Guardiola’s claim about the big buy is sparking reactions

Calvin Phillips, Manchester City |  Guardiola’s claim about the big buy is sparking reactions

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola did not comment on the England international Phillips’ fitness ahead of the Premier League’s resumption at Christmas.

According to the manager, the star suffers from overweight after he was with England in the Qatar World Cup recently. BBC And a number of other British media published exclusive statements by the City manager.

Big buy Phillips was brought in from Leeds this summer for NOK 535 million. He has in no way lived up to that award since. The 27-year-old has so far struggled with a shoulder injury for most of his first season as a City player.

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Nevertheless, Phillips was selected by national team coach Gareth Southgate for England’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar, despite the very limited match rule up front. He had two interceptions during the playoffs.

debris

Earlier this week it was Phillips A surprising absence from the Light Blues, when Manchester City and Erling Braut Haaland knocked out Liverpool In the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

– He wasn’t hurt. Guardiola justified that he came back overweight, with a wreck.

The Spaniard answered succinctly that he did not know why Phillips did not shine as expected after the return trip from the World Cup qualifiers.

He is no longer fit to train and play.

The Manchester City boss then faced the fact that Phillips had all the prerequisites to be in good shape, both in terms of training quality and diet, since he was on national team duty during the World Cup.

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– no no no. Absolutely. That’s why he can’t play. When he’s ready, he’ll play, because we need him. Guardiola replied, We desperately need him.


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Guardiola punished

The description of Phillips as overweight was met with opposition from some media figures in England. One of them is Joe Townsend, football editor at Sporting Live.

“Too weak of Guardiola to go out in public and say Calvin Phillips is overweight,” he wrote. Twitter. He adds that critics of women’s football are quick to point out that women lag far behind men when the opportunity arises.

“This is a clear example of men’s football having something they really need to work on. It’s malicious behaviour,” Townsend continues.

Manchester City columnist Joe Bray at Manchester Evening News Guardiola’s description is believed to put Phillips in a bad light, but the defensive midfielder is not the first to be criticized for his poor performances this season by the manager.

Bray notes that star winger Riyad Mahrez, 31, was told in October that he was not “fit” for more playing time.

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This happened during a period in which the Algerian played ten matches without scoring any goals. Mahrez has since turned things around, scoring five goals in eight matches.

Unconfirmed against Leeds

Guardiola did not address what he told Phillips himself about the situation, nor did he respond to whether he was disappointed with England’s bid. The manager thinks this is private and should be kept secret.

Other City players who made the England World Cup squad, such as John Stone, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, played in the aforementioned League Cup match against Liverpool. Portugal goalkeeper Rubén Dias suffered a thigh injury during the World Cup and is not available for the match.

It is currently unclear if Calvin Phillips is eligible to play City’s next away game at Christmas against old club Leeds on December 28.

Najuma Ojukwu

Najuma Ojukwu

"Infuriatingly humble internet trailblazer. Twitter buff. Beer nerd. Bacon scholar. Coffee practitioner."

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