Jamie Carragher has come up with a suggestion as to why Kalvin Phillips may not be playing for Manchester City as much as he should.
The midfielder has found minutes really hard to come by once again this season.
Pep Guardiola has continually overlooked the 27-year-old.
Rodri has played most of the games so far at holding midfield.
The Spaniard is a world-class operator, and it is very difficult for Phillips to get into the side.
But Rodri served a three-game ban recently, and Pep only started Phillips once.
Carragher spoke about Phillips on The Overlap, and has a theory as to why he may not be in favour with the manager.
Jamie Carragher says Kalvin Phillips may not be imposing his personality enough at Manchester City
Some have suggested that Phillips simply isn’t good enough to play for City.
That the level is too high for him.
But Carragher doesn’t believe it is a question of ability.
He reckons that Phillips may simply not be imposing his personality enough.
He said: “I just think if I was in that position and a manager wasn’t picking me, I think I’d be treating training like a game. Almost every day. I’m not saying he doesn’t (train well). We all give 100% in training.
“Whatever it is, he’s got to make sure he’s in the manager’s face. I had situations at Liverpool where it felt like every season I was getting replaced by a new player coming in my position. I’d be like a lunatic every day thinking ‘I’ve got to be better than him’.
“My point is, make sure you’re noticed every day, whether it’s your voice, you’re being loud, you’re leaving a tackle in on someone, you’re going to speak to the manager ‘OK I don’t understand the position, explain it to me’.”
Phillips was always going to struggle competing with Rodri
It is possible that Phillips – who’s being linked with a January exit from the club – may not have imposed himself enough at City.
But irrespective of that, he was always going to find it really hard competing with Rodri.
Pep absolutely loves his fellow Spaniard, and he’s the best in the world at what he does.
He makes the team tick, and we have seen what happens when he comes out of the team.
