MY ACCOUNT
Pep Guardiola labelled Kalvin Phillips a “perfect” replacement for Fernandinho as he weighed up whether to hand the England midfielder his first Manchester City start against Newcastle United.
Guardiola also revealed talks with Phillips’ former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa proved crucial to City’s decision to recruit the 26-year-old.
Phillips joined City from Leeds in a deal worth up to £45million in July, but he is yet to make a first competitive start for the Premier League champions after picking up an injury in training.
But with Phillips back to full fitness and looking to make his full debut when City visit St. James’ Park on Sunday, Guardiola has revealed how he was alerted to the midfielder’s quality when Bielsa was coaching him in the second tier of English football.
“He [Bielsa] spoke about him three or four years ago,” Guardiola said. “He spoke about him when he was in the Championship.
“It was the first time I realised Kalvin Phillips played for Leeds and he [Bielsa] spoke with me: ‘There is a guy who is really, really good, maybe not now for Manchester City but maybe one day he can play in the top teams.’
“After he proved Marcelo was not wrong, [he was] promoted to Premier League and national team.
“The steps they have done is for Kalvin’s and Leeds’ credit. After Fernandinho decided to go to Brazil, the rest is history.
“We were looking for a holding midfielder and we thought he was perfect for us.”
Phillips helped Leeds to a ninth-placed finish upon their return to the Premier League in the 2020-21 campaign, and started every match for England as they fell narrowly short of victory at Euro 2020 last year.
And the City boss is confident he will provide stern competition for Rodri in the City midfield immediately, adding: “We don’t have doubts, he is a national-team England player, he was working with Marcelo Bielsa, he’s British, that helps in the Premier League a lot, too.
“Last season he had injuries and you have to be careful right now with the little disturbances he had last week, to try to avoid it in the future. I am sure he is going to adapt.
“Of course he is going to have to know some things we are doing, now is the step forward for him in that position.
“When September starts it is a game every three days, we will need him and he will prove how valuable he is – we don’t have doubts.
“We know he is an exceptional person; that helps a lot. We knew Kyle [Walker] and John [Stones] for the feel of the English national team players, so he has settled perfectly and so quick.”
