Man City's Pep Guardiola apologizes to Kalvin Phillips over weight criticism
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologised to Kalvin Phillips for saying publicly that he had returned from the Qatar World Cup overweight.
Kalvin Phillips plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club West Ham, on loan from Manchester City, and the England national team.
Phillips started out at his local club Wortley from 2003 until 2010 before joining Leeds United's academy.
He was made captain of the development and under-18s team during the 2014/15 season, with coach Jason Blunt saying he expected Phillips to become a fan favourite in the future.
He scored his first senior goal for Leeds one week later against Cardiff City.
Despite Leeds United failing to get promoted to the Premier League, Phillips had a stellar 2018/19 campaign playing as a deep-lying midfielder and occasional central defender under Marcelo Bielsa. This was a change in style brought about by the Argentinian, with Phillips originally being a more box-to-box player.
Those questions were answered as Leeds United enjoyed a fantastic campaign, finishing ninth in the table, with Phillips playing a huge role.
The defensive midfielder appeared in 30 games in all competitions and made his 200th appearance for the club in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on February 8, 2021.
Phillips' second season in the Premier League was hampered by a hamstring injury, which didn't help the club's ongoing struggle against relegation.
He returned from a four month lay-off in April, and was part of the side that did just enough to avoid the drop on the last day of the season.
Injury initially restricted his opportunities but Guardiola could not find a clear role for him in his side and he rarely featured.
The 28-year-old made just two Premier League starts for Pep Guardiola’s side since moving to the Etihad Stadium.
Phillips has a Jamaican father and Irish mother, but was born in England. He was contacted by the Jamaican national team, but opted to play for England.
He was also called up to Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020 and played in every game of their run to the final.
Phillips' net worth is believed to be around £8million.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologised to Kalvin Phillips for saying publicly that he had returned from the Qatar World Cup overweight.
Kalvin Phillips expressed a revitalized sense of vigor since his loan move to West Ham, following a disheartening stint at Manchester City marred by critiques of his weight from Pep Guardiola.
West Ham boss David Moyes has assured Kalvin Phillips that he will have plenty of time to establish himself in the squad.
David Moyes admits it will take time for Kalvin Phillips to settle in at West Ham after a torrid debut in which his glaring error gifted Bournemouth an early opener.
Kalvin Phillips has completed his loan move from Manchester City to West Ham, the clubs have announced.
Kalvin Phillips is undergoing a medical at West Ham on Thursday ahead of his loan switch from Manchester City.
West Ham United have an agreement with Manchester City for the loan signing of Kalvin Phillips, with a medical expected on Wednesday.