Kalvin Phillips has promised to give Pep Guardiola a selection headache as he looks to feature more for Manchester City this season.
Phillips arrived from Leeds in a £42m deal last summer, but the midfielder made just four starts during City’s treble-winning campaign.
A combination of injury and fitness issues largely restricted Phillips’ involvement to short cameos off the bench, but the 27-year-old is confident he will make a greater contribution this season.
Phillips will send Guardiola a message
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday, Phillips spoke about his role changing after he left Leeds for City.
“At Leeds I knew that no matter what I’d probably be in the starting line-up, but now my mindset has changed,” he said.
“I’m not expecting to be in the team or start. But if I don’t, I’m going to push to get involved more.
“I’d love to play more, be involved more and win, but I know how difficult it is and I hope this season is a lot better for me.”
Although Phillips endured a tough first season at the Etihad Stadium, it didn’t necessarily come as a surprise to him.
“[Before joining] I spoke to a few of the lads about their first seasons at City, about how difficult they found it when they joined,” Phillips said.
“They said it takes at least 12 months for someone to really understand what the manager wants you to do, to get the way he wants you to play and how he wants you to work.”
Phillips must take his chance
Phillips is right – the majority of new signings struggle in their first season at City, and that’s when they aren’t hampered by injuries like he was.
However, this season the midfielder will be expected to kick on and feature more.
If by the end of the season Guardiola doesn’t feel like he can trust Phillips to deputise for Rodri then it might be time to reassess his City future.
