Much was expected of Kalvin Phillips when he moved to Manchester City from Leeds United in the summer of 2022.
Kalvin Phillips starred for Leeds United in the Championship and then did extremely well in the Premier League with the West Yorkshire club.
So, there was not a real surprise when Manchester City decided to spend £42 million to sign Phillips from Leeds in the summer of 2022.
Kalvin Phillips struggling at Manchester City
The England international defensive midfielder, though, has struggled to make a huge impact at City so far.
Yes, we know that it can take players a full season to get used to the way that Pep Guardiola plays his football, but even now, the 27-year-old is not getting into the team.
Phillips made two starts and 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League for City last season.
The Englishman played only 39 minutes in the UEFA Champions League last season.
You have to say that City would have won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup without Phillips in their squad.
City manager Pep Guardiola even complained of Phillips being overweight at one point last season.
Phillips has played just 45 minutes in the Premier League and only seven minutes in the UEFA Champions League for the Citizens so far this season.
Chris Sutton verdict on Kalvin Phillips
The suspension of Rodri could give Phillips a chance to start now, but former Chelsea striker and BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton does not think that everything is well and good between the midfielder and Guardiola.
The pundit believes that there is something wrong with the £150,000-a-week (Spotrac) midfielder which is why Guardiola does not play him much.
Sutton said about Phillips on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It is also telling that Pep hasn’t really used him at all, has he?
“He has been right out of the picture last season, even at the start of this season.
“He has barely kicked a ball.
“There must be something wrong there that Pep just doesn’t fancy.”
