“I am told”… Fabrizio Romano shares what he has heard from inside Manchester City

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Published on 2024-01-25 11:30:00

Journalist Fabrizio Romano recently disclosed details about the relationship between manager Pep Guardiola and player Kalvin Phillips at Manchester City. Romano revealed this information during an interview with Caught Offside.

Guardiola, who is the head coach of City, has only started Phillips in two Premier League matches after signing him from Leeds United in July 2022. Recent reports indicate that City is considering a loan move for Phillips to West Ham, suggesting possible issues between the player and the coach.

However, Romano clarified that, based on what he has learned, there is no “negative” relationship between Guardiola and Phillips. Romano stated,

“Despite what’s been reported elsewhere, the relationship between Kalvin Phillips and Pep Guardiola was very good, from what I heard. Phillips has always been super professional despite being often benched, Pep was happy with his behavior. Of course there were some tense moments but it’s part of football, it always happens at big clubs, but I’m told it was not a negative relationship.”

Additionally, Guardiola had previously explained that Phillips’ limited playing time was mainly due to Guardiola’s struggle to envision him carrying out certain tactical ideas compared to other players like Rodri.

This indicates that the issues between Guardiola and Phillips were primarily football-related, rather than stemming from a lack of professionalism.

According to Florian Plettenburg of Sky Germany, if Phillips performs well at West Ham, the club could acquire him permanently for a sum of €40m (£34m).

This value represents an £11m loss for Manchester City. However, given City’s financial strength, the potential loss is not expected to be a significant concern for the club.

Romano’s insights provide a clearer understanding of the dynamics between Guardiola and Phillips at Manchester City.

Despite the limited game time for Phillips, it appears that Guardiola and the player have maintained a professional and respectful relationship.

Read Original article on Manchester City News