|
Players produced or bought back by Manchester City generally don't disappoint. Especially those personally identified and nurtured by the renowned coach Pep Guardiola are considered the cream of the crop. However, there are exceptions to every rule, and English midfielder and former Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips is one such exception. After transferring to Manchester City, his performance fluctuated, ultimately leading to his departure from the club. How could a talented player regress so dramatically? The reasons behind it are closely tied to him.
When Phillips first joined Manchester City, there were high expectations for him from almost everyone, as he was an absolute mainstay for England and had performed admirably at Leeds United. However, he failed to meet the expected level of performance at Manchester City. Many weren't worried initially, as Guardiola's tactics are complex, and many star players often struggle in their first year at the club, typically showing improvement in the second year.
However, Phillips didn't experience this improvement. Instead, he performed poorly and was plagued by injuries. Additionally, due to unknown reasons, he couldn't control his weight, which further hindered his progress. After recovering from injury, Guardiola no longer considered him for selection, even publicly stating in a press conference that he was "overweight," straining their relationship. Phillips subsequently left Manchester City to join West Ham United on loan.
However, Phillips' performance at West Ham United didn't improve. In the first game, he made a fatal passing mistake leading to a goal against the team, and in the second, he was directly sent off with a red card. Such disastrous performances left many disappointed in him. Even England's head coach, Gareth Southgate, who had consistently included Phillips in the national team squad despite Guardiola's criticism, was considering giving up on him. Phillips' professional career was in crisis.
Despite the numerous challenges he faced, Phillips believed he had done nothing wrong. He publicly expressed that Guardiola's comments about his weight severely affected his confidence. His family, including his mother, also expressed dissatisfaction with Guardiola's remarks. Eventually, Guardiola publicly apologized to Phillips, admitting that his comments had impacted his confidence. However, fans were not convinced. They believed Phillips was too fragile and should focus on proving his doubters wrong instead of complaining. Yet, Phillips still seems unaware of his own issues. |
This post contains more resources
You have to Login for download or view attachment(s). No Account? Register
x
|