Kalvin Phillips has featured alongside numerous top-level players during his time at Manchester City.
Even though the midfielder has only made 31 appearances for City since he arrived at the Etihad Stadium in a deal worth £45m back in 2022, he has had the experience of working with Pep Guardiola.
Phillips has also had the chance to share the pitch and dressing room with some of the best players in City’s history during what has been an incredibly successful time for the club.
Having joined Ipswich Town on a season-long loan deal back in August, Phillips said he left City to start playing regularly again.
Now though, the exiled Englishman has shared some insight into how he views one of the key figures in City’s squad.
- Who is Kalvin Phillips? Get to know the midfielder who could leave Man City in the transfer window
Kalvin Phillips says Erling Haaland is completely unique
After ranking Erling Haaland above Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane in terms of his goalscoring ability as part of a video shared on the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel, Phillips gave this explanation.
He said: “Because I have never seen anything like him.
“I just think anywhere in the box, you give the ball to him, he’s 99% going to score a goal. I just think he has a fire in his belly to outdo himself every season.”
Shaun Wright-Phillips has also hailed ‘unique’ Haaland
Phillips isn’t the only person connected to City to discuss the Norwegian’s uniqueness, as Shaun Wright-Phillips summed up Haaland’s talent with these comments back in September.
He said: “I think he’s completely different from most strikers, possibly even in the world.
“He has a knack for not being involved in the game for long periods, but when you give him one touch in the box, it’s almost like he’s had multiple touches leading up to that moment.
“Once he gets that chance, he works on a clean strike, especially inside the box. For me, it’s a unique skill.
“What has impressed me most over the years is that his all-around game has improved. He gets more assists than people think and works hard.”
During the same window they signed Phillips from Leeds United, City paid £51m to secure a deal for Haaland.
Since then, the 24-year-old has bagged 101 goals in 108 matches, winning multiple trophies and individual awards along the way as well as breaking many records in the process.
Now that the City loanee has highlighted how Haaland stands out to him in terms of always wanting to improve as well as being a top finisher, this further highlights the special sort of player he is and the motivation he has.
