Table of Contents
- Kalvin Phillips opens up about decision to leave Manchester City on loan
- He opened up about the brutal criticism Pep Guardiola made of him
- The only PR coaches get is results… the way Erik ten Hag handled Marcus Rashford was a rare positive for the Man U boss. Podcast Everything is beginning
West Ham midfielder Kalvin Phillips has opened up about his decision to leave Manchester City on loan after being labeled overweight by Pep Guardiola.
The England international joined the Irons in the January transfer window after a difficult 18 months in Manchester.
During his time at the Etihad, Phillips was criticized by Guardiola when the Spaniard called him “overweight.”
speaking to SunPhillips admitted that the period in which his manager criticized him in the media was the hardest of his career.
“After the World Cup it was probably the hardest, when Pep came out and told me he was overweight. He was right to do it, but there are different ways to do it,” he said.
Kalvin Phillips opens up about decision to leave Manchester City on loan for West Ham
The midfielder admitted that facing Pep Guardiola’s criticism was the hardest period
Phillips spoke to England manager Gareth Southgate before making his decision.
Phillips went on to reveal the context behind Guardiola’s comments before admitting that the comments affected his mother.
“Pep was frustrated because I didn’t return to training early, but it was simply a lack of communication between me and the City people,” he continued.
‘Pep wanted me to come the day after we finished the tournament and participate in friendlies and stuff. I never got that information because if he asked me to be there, he would have done it.
‘It was just a misunderstanding, I was very frustrated because I was 1.5kg over my target weight.
‘It was a huge blow to my confidence and how I felt at City. My family weren’t happy about it either. Especially mum.’
Phillips has had a tough start at West Ham, inadvertently setting up Dominic Solaker to score against the Hammers on his debut.
However, the midfielder is eager to regain his form as he targets a place in the England squad for Euro 2024.
Phillips admitted he spoke to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate who advised him to stay in the Premier League rather than looking to move abroad.
“I definitely wouldn’t have been at the Euros this summer if I hadn’t moved in January,” he admitted.
“I spoke to England manager Gareth Southgate about some teams a month before the January window and he influenced me to stay in the Premier League rather than go abroad.
“I wanted that same feeling of playing regularly, otherwise there was definitely a chance of someone else playing in my place and that would be heartbreaking.”
“I wanted to have the best chance to win the European Championship.”
