Kalvin Phillips: Pep Guardiola says Man City midfielder was 'overweight' after World Cup

2 years ago 51

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says England midfielder Kalvin Phillips was "overweight" erstwhile helium returned to grooming from the World Cup.

The 27-year-old was a astonishment omission from the City squad for Thursday's Carabao Cup triumph implicit Liverpool.

Guardiola's archetypal mentation was to accidental Phillips, who joined City from Leeds successful July, was not fit.

However, the City brag aboriginal stated: "He is not injured. He arrived overweight."

When asked why, Guardiola replied: "I don't know.

"He didn't get successful the information for the grooming sessions and to play."

Phillips played doubly for England successful Qatar aft recovering from enarthrosis surgery, coming connected arsenic a substitute against Wales and Senegal.

He joined City successful a £45m woody past summertime but has made conscionable 1 Premier League quality this season, coming connected arsenic a last-minute substitute astatine West Ham successful August.

When it was pointed retired Phillips would person benefited from the champion grooming and nutritional proposal erstwhile helium was connected planetary duty, Guardiola said: "Absolutely."

Guardiola refused to explicate what helium had said to Phillips astir the situation, saying it was a backstage conversation.

In total, Phillips has made 4 appearances for City, each from the substitutes' bench.

His past was against Chelsea successful the EFL Cup connected 9 November.

It is not known whether Phillips is successful contention to look aged nine Leeds connected 28 December but, contempt his disappointing clip astatine City truthful far, Guardiola says the 27-year-old volition beryllium welcomed backmost into his squad.

"When helium volition beryllium ready, helium volition play," helium said. "We request him. We request him a lot."

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