FC Manchester City News: Kalvin Phillips wants to stay at Manchester City and fight for his place
Kalvin Phillips, aged 27, has expressed his determination to secure his place in Manchester City despite facing challenges in his first season with the triple-winning team.
The English midfielder, who was acquired from Leeds for a fee of £42 million in the previous year, faced injury setbacks throughout the majority of the season and was subsequently excluded from Pep Guardiola’s plans during City’s triumphant end to the campaign.
He only played in two Premier League matches as City achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in the same season.
Phillips concluded a disappointing individual season on a positive note by scoring his inaugural goal for England in Monday’s dominant 7-0 victory over North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualifier at Old Trafford.
Insisting he has no plans to push for a move before next season, Phillips said: “To be honest I was injured before I even went to City, so that is one of the main reasons why I was injured so much.”
“City have been amazing to help me get back to full fitness and I eventually played a few more games for City and England, so credit to the medical staff at City for helping me.”
“My intention is to stay there. We have just won the treble, so there is no reason for me to leave, other than if I am not playing I will obviously have to think about it.”
“I cannot give it 12 months and say, ‘I am not playing so I am going to leave’. I came to Manchester City to win trophies and we won the trophies, but I didn’t play as much as I wanted to do.”
Phillips disclosed that he had conversed with his City teammates Nathan Ake and England compatriot Jack Grealish for guidance. Both Ake and Grealish also required some time to adapt to Guardiola’s style of play at City.
“I just know how difficult it is to understand the way Pep wants to play and how quickly you need to adapt to play in his system,” Phillips said.
“I spoke to quite a few of the players about it. Nathan Ake being one, Jack, they all said the same, they all said the first 12 months were the hardest of their City careers but after that, it doesn’t become easy, but easier.”
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