Pep Guardiola explains Kalvin Phillips omission in Man City Community Shield defeat to Liverpool

Kalvin Phillips did not feature in the Community Shield, but Guardiola has no concerns regarding his new signing.

The summer signing, who arrived from Leeds United last month, wasn’t selected to make his competitive debut for the club, unlike Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.

Phillips was an unused substitute at the King Power Stadium, with Guardiola starting Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in midfield, while Ilkay Gundogan was introduced in the second half.

It meant City’s new No.4 had to watch from the sidelines as Liverpool beat the Premier League champions to lift the Community Shield.

Speaking after the game, Guardiola implied those midfielders who did feature were more equipped to play given they’re up to speed with his tactical approach, while Phillips is still adjusting to a new style after just a few weeks at the club.

“No, he has confidence. He can play, he is ready to play,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. “But he arrived just two, three weeks [ago].

“We have Rodri and Bernardo and Gundogan and they know [how we play]. Step by step he [Phillips] will get it. He’s an incredibly nice person and the season is so long. Many games he is going to help us.”

Phillips came off the bench in both of City’s pre-season matches in the United States, a 2-1 defeat of Club America and a 1-0 win against Bayern Munich.

In both he showed not only his quality but his versatility and exemplary attitude by playing multiple positions. Against the Mexican side he slotted in at centre-back before moving back into midfield, while against Bayern he played as a holding midfielder alongside Rodri and then further forward in a number eight role.