Ian Wright has expressed his confusion about Kalvin Phillips’ lack of game time for Manchester City, with Roy Keane insisting Pep Guardiola doesn’t trust him.
Phillips has once again struggled to feature for City this season.
Rodri has played the bulk of the games so far.
But the Spaniard has just served a three-game ban, which might have created an opportunity for Phillips.
He did start against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.
But £150,000-a-week star Phillips was then overlooked against Wolves and Arsenal.
His situation is a strange one, and he was a topic of conversation on a new video on The Overlap…
Ian Wright and Roy Keane argue about Manchester City star Kalvin Phillips
City’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal was discussed in a new video of The Overlap.
Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected late strike was the difference between the two sides.
Former Gunners striker Wright was obviously elated with the result, but couldn’t understand Phillips not starting again.
He said: “I know the game was cagey. I didn’t think it was great I though it was very defensive. City’s midfielder without Rodri, obviously he’s going to be a massive miss for them. Having Bernardo Silva and Rico Lewis doing the pivot role and then Kovacic there.
“You just think, why don’t you play Kalvin Phillips in this particular role, he’s a specialist. It doesn’t make sense!”
Keane added: “He doesn’t trust him Wrighty. He’s had a couple of chances he played a few weeks ago!”
Wright said: What do you mean he doesn’t trust him?
Keane: “He didn’t play him in the big game with all the injuries. He played at Newcastle two or three weeks ago
Wright: “What did he do wrong?
Keane: “Well he didn’t do too much good. He didn’t do enough Wrighty. You’ve got to win the manager’s trust.
Wright: “He’s not playing often enough!”
Phillips surely on the brink
You would imagine that the writing is on the wall for Phillips after this past couple of weeks.
This was meant to be his chance to prove himself.
It was arguably the biggest period of his City career to date.
But Keane is sadly probably right. Pep doesn’t seem to trust the player.
It’s been reported he could be leaving in January, and it’s difficult to see anything other than that happening.
