Kalvin Phillips has not been one of Manchester City’s most successful signings in the Pep Guardiola era.
Signed from Leeds United during the 2022 summer window for £45m, the midfielder has started just six of the 31 games he’s appeared in for City across all competitions.
Having spent the second half of his second season as a City player on loan at West Ham United, the Englishman joined Ipswich Town on a season-long loan deal during the previous summer window.
As someone who struggled to become a mainstay in the team, Phillips has now been speaking about one figure he worked with at the Etihad Stadium who helped him try and become the player Pep Guardiola wanted him to be.
- Who is Kalvin Phillips? Get to know the midfielder who could leave Man City in the transfer window
Kalvin Phillips hails Enzo Maresca
Appearing in a recent edition of My Mate’s A Footballer, Phillips said this when asked about how it was for him being coached by Enzo Maresca when he was part of Guardiola’s coaching staff during the midfielder’s debut season at City.
He said: “He was good with me as well, because obviously I first come in and try to understand the way that Pep played.
“Obviously, everyone knew it off to a T and I was new there, so I kind of struggled a bit in the first probably six months.
“But he made sure that he did like extra stuff with me and made sure he spoke to me about different things, what I need to work on and stuff like that.”
How has Maresca fared since leaving City?
After being a part of Guardiola’s coaching staff during City’s Treble-winning campaign, Maresca took charge of Leicester City.
During his time at the Midlands club, Maresca led the Foxes to automatic promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, winning 36 of the 53 games he overlooked across all competitions.
This then led to the Italian being appointed as Chelsea’s manager, where he has now six of the nine matches of the season so far.
In the Premier League, with six games played, Maresca has seen his side score more goals (15) than any other side in the division.
Even though Maresca recently named Guardiola as the best manager in Premier League history, it’s interesting to hear that Phillips potentially benefitted more from being coached by Maresca then he did from Guardiola.
