Chris Sutton believes it was “unforgivable” that Kalvin Phillips returned from the Qatar World Cup overweight to Manchester City.
Recently, the Englishman admitted that Pep Guardiola’s public admission about his weight took a “big knock” on his confidence.
The Manchester City loanee revealed that his family were not particularly pleased by the Spaniard’s revelation as well.
Chris Sutton says it was “unforgivable” that Kalvin Phillips was overweight at Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s decision to go public by calling the 28-year-old out split opinion at the time.
Some felt it was bang out of order from the Catalan tactician while others believe it was justified.
But Chris Sutton falls into the camp of those who sorely feel that Kalvin Phillips was in the wrong.
“If he’s overweight, he’s overweight. It’s unprofessional. It’s unforgivable really for a player to be overweight. You know, he signed a contract with Manchester City”, he said on the Daily Mail’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast.
“I just don’t quite understand. Players can have bad times at clubs. And we talk about my time at Chelsea every time we come on the pod in some way, shape, or form. That can happen.”
Chris Sutton added that Pep Guardiola was justified in revealing that Kalvin Phillips was overweight.
“But you’ve got to give yourself the best possible chance. And I don’t think he’s done that. If he’s overweight, he’s overweight. And Pep [Guardiola] calling him out, he’s called him out for a reason. You’re a professional athlete. He’s being paid tens of thousands of pounds a week.’”
Pep Guardiola perhaps simply wished to motivate Kalvin Phillips
Often, managers tend to go public with their criticisms of their own players as a motivational tool to put some fire into their bellies.
Jose Mourinho has been known to employ this tactic at every club he has managed, especially at Chelsea and Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola perhaps tried to do the same with Kalvin Phillips and if he was indeed frustrated with him, Chris Sutton sees no problem with that.
One perhaps cannot even criticise Guardiola for the decision.
Ultimately, the harmony in the Manchester City camp did not seem to be affected after the decorated coach’s admission as they went on to win the treble last season.
But perhaps Pep Guardiola may have learned that when it comes to a player like Kalvin Phillips, putting an arm around his shoulder may be the most suitable way to get the best out of him, which did not end up being the outcome at the Etihad Stadium in any case.
