Journalist Rory Smith has hinted at the fact that Pep Guardiola has obliterated Kalvin Phillips’ confidence.
Recently, the 28-year-old admitted that Guardiola’s comments about him being overweight after returning from the World Cup damaged his self-belief.
The Manchester City loanee added that the Catalan’s public revelation was the lowest point of his career so far.
Chris Sutton, however, described the Englishman’s excess weight as “unforgivable” and felt Pep Guardiola was justified in calling him out.
Rory Smith suggests Pep Guardiola destroyed Kalvin Phillips’ confidence
Since joining West Ham on loan, it would not be outlandish to suggest that the £42 million (The Athletic) man, with Graeme Souness questioning if he is even a Premier League-level player.
Hammers coach Kevin Nolan revealed that after the former Leeds United midfielder’s error that led to Alejandro Garnacho’s goal, he was “really upset.”
But Rory Smith believes Pep Guardiola did not help Kalvin Phillips’ confidence in any way, shape or form.
“Yeah, look, he shouldn’t have been overweight. Obviously, athletes shouldn’t be overweight. But if you have a manager, who and let’s be relatively frank about this made it clear almost from day one that he didn’t really fancy him, the world’s greatest manager. The man who’s designed this beautiful Manchester City machine is basically looking at you thinking, ‘Well yeah, we’ve got Rodri and then we’re going to turn Manuel Akanji into a central midfielder so you don’t have to play.’
“We’ll bring in Rico Lewis. We’ll play whatever child we can find. That is going to absolutely destroy you, surely and do you know what, you might let yourself go a little bit”, he said on BBC 5 Live Sport’s The Monday Night Club.
Kalvin Phillips only has himself to blame
In our view, Rory Smith is being unfair by pointing the finger at Pep Guardiola for Kalvin Phillips’ stagnating career.
As Tony Cascarino claimed in January, it was baffling to see the England international make the move to the Etihad Stadium in 2022, considering he had to compete for a starting spot with arguably the world’s best holding midfielder in Rodri.
Naturally, Pep Guardiola, who has the pressure of winning major silverware every season favoured his fellow countryman over Kalvin Phillips at the base of midfield, who sealed City’s treble win in the Champions League final with the all-important winner.
Since joining West Ham on loan, Phillips has not given Guardiola any reason to regret his decision with the dismal performances he has put in.
While the Spaniard’s comment about the treble-winner’s weight might have been harsh, his treatment of him at Manchester City certainly was not.
