Stuart Pearce has branded Pep Guardiola’s comments about Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips last week ‘bizarre’.
The former City manager appeared on talkSPORT yesterday, and gave his thoughts about Phillips once again being overlooked by the Spaniard.
City took on Luton Town on Sunday at Kenilworth Road – and there were no minutes once again for former Leeds United star Phillips.
Towards the end of the game, TV cameras cut to the 27-year-old sat on the bench looking dejected, with Sky co-commentator Alan Smith saying he would ‘surely’ be leaving the club in January.
It’s been a really tough time at the club for Phillips, but Pearce has some sympathy for him as he questioned Guardiola’s apology to the player…
Stuart Pearce baffled by what Pep Guardiola said about Kalvin Phillips
Before the game with Luton, Guardiola had issued a public apology to Phillips over his lack of game time at City.
He said (via Sky Sports): “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I feel so sorry for my decision for him. I’ve said that many times. He doesn’t deserve what has happened to him and I’m so sorry. It’s just because I visualise some things and visualise the team and things – and I struggle to see him.”
Guardiola has always had good things to say about Phillips in press conferences. But it is clear he does not trust the player, having handed him just eight appearances for a total of 215 minutes this season.
Pearce gave his reaction to what Guardiola said about Phillips, and wasn’t really able to understand why he was talking as if he didn’t have the power to play him.
He said: “That comment is as though it’s out of his hands. But it’s not out of his hands because he picks the team – it’s a really bizarre one. It’s as though ‘I’ve brought the player to this football club, I thought he was something different to what he actually is and when he’s got here, he’s not what I thought he would be and I can’t put him in the team because I don’t trust him to be part of a team that’ll get me a result’. That’s how it sounded to me.”
Pep was being polite
You can tell Pep genuinely feels bad about the Phillips situation, but it’s very clear at this point he is not a player he intends to ever give regular minutes to in this City team.
The £150,000-a-week player will know by now, and have known for some time, that he is surplus to requirements and that he needs to leave in January.
It was admirable for him to stay beyond the summer window, but the level at City is just so high and he seemingly just isn’t bringing what is required.
It’s a sad situation because Phillips is a great player and by many accounts a very nice, humble person.
For the sake of his career, he must make sure he gets out in January and finds a club he will thrive at.
