Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has said that English midfielder Calvin Phillips was overweight in the first training session after returning from the World Cup. The player was a surprise absence in City's challenge against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, which ended with a 3-2 victory for the "citizens".
Asked by reporters about Phillips' absence, Guardiola clarified the unusual situation:
"He (Phillips) is not injured. He came back overweight. I don't know why...Phillips didn't get back in the right physical condition for training sessions and to play."
The talented City midfielder joined the club last summer for a fee of £45m. However, the player has only been activated once this season in the Premier League. Meanwhile in the world, Phillips played in two appearances with the English national team, against Wales and Senegal. In both cases, Kalvin came on as a substitute.
Guardiola was also asked by reporters what he communicated to Phillips about the situation, but the Spanish coach refused to answer saying it was a private conversation. Despite a somewhat disappointing first period of the season, Pep seems not to have lost his enthusiasm for the English midfielder. The coach said that when Phillips is back in his best form he will return to the lineup:
"When he is ready he will play. We need it. We need him a lot..."
Kalvin Phillips has been activated a total of 4 times with the "citizens" since his transfer to the Etihad. In all these appearances, the midfielder came on the field as a substitute. Phillips' last game was against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last November. The player's future at Manchester City remains unclear, and the coming weeks will be crucial for his fortunes at the Etihad.
